The Lights Went Out, Then Water Came In: Nepal Hydropower Project Worker On Tunnel Escape
A hydropower project worker recounts his harrowing escape from a tunnel during the devastating August floods in Nepal. He describes the struggle to survive in the dark, water-filled tunnels while fearing for his family's safety.
Why it matters
The story provides a human perspective on the massive infrastructure and environmental damage caused by recent extreme weather events in the Himalayas.
A gust of wind rushed in first. It made an ominous sound, and they wondered what was happening. Was it a storm? Someone said earthquake. Then the lights went out.And water came in.The Nepal flood of August 26 trapped workers at a hydropower plant along the Bhote Koshi river in the deadly flow that claimed hundreds of lives in the region.Vishnu Bahadur Thapa described the scene as he was among the 35 workers who were rescued soon after the deadly gush took death and destruction further downstream."Once the lights went out, we were trapped. I fell as I tried to run out," he told NDTV, in a slush-hit settlement along the river."There was a tunnel exit a little away from where I was trying to get out. Just then the water came."He said they were all eventually wading through neck-high water."For about 3 kilometres, I dragged my body.
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