Good chance that trapped workers are still alive in Nepal hydropower plant, official says
A Nepal Electricity Authority official expressed optimism that dozens of workers trapped for a week in an underground chamber at the Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant might still be alive, citing the presence of food and water. Rescue teams are actively searching for over 600 missing individuals across multiple hydropower projects affected by recent flash floods.
Why it matters
This highlights the human impact of natural disasters and the challenges of rescue operations in remote, disaster-stricken areas, while also offering a glimmer of hope for survivors amidst a tragic event.
There is a high chance that dozens of workers may be found alive after a week trapped in an underground chamber at Nepal's Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant following deadly flash floods, a Nepal Electricity Authority official said on Wednesday (September 2, 2026).
"In Rasuwagadhi, we think 46 people are trapped in a room-like structure in the tunnel," Amshu Kiran Shahi, a board member of the Nepal Electricity Authority, told Reuters .
"We are very confident that they must be alive after one week because ... they have food and water over there in the building."
So far, Nepali authorities have rescued 279 people from hydropower projects swamped by the unprecedented deluge of ice, rock, mud and debris, triggered by a glacial collapse near the country's border with China.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in