Nepal-Tibet floods: River water smashed into tunnel and chased me, hydropower engineer says
Hydropower workers in Nepal recount their narrow escape after flash floods inundated a tunnel construction site. The disaster has left thousands missing and caused significant damage to critical energy infrastructure.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the extreme risks faced by workers in climate-vulnerable regions and the fragility of infrastructure projects in the Himalayas.
Figure caption, Pemba Dundu Tamang tells the BBC how he discovered some of his colleagues were missing after he escaped a flooded tunnel
Nepalese hydropower workers have told the BBC about the catastrophic moment water from the Trishuli River crashed into their tunnel as the region was inundated by deadly flash floods last week.
It started with a sudden, strong gust of air, says Pemba Dundu Tamang, whose team of about 30 was constructing the tunnel's concrete lining.
The blast of wind sent plywood flying through the air and dislodged heavy machinery. Just outside, houses had already been swept away.
"I ran towards the tunnel entrance," he said. "The water was chasing behind me and I was running ahead of it."
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