KATHMANDU — Rescue workers searching for survivors inside tunnels of devastated hydropower plants in Nepal's Trishuli valley are relying on a WhatsApp group of over 500 engineers and experts who provide real-time structural guidance and plant layouts.
The messaging group, established before the Aug. 26 flash flood caused by a glacier collapse, has become a critical tool alongside helicopters and heavy machinery. The authorities hope some of the approximately 900 people reported missing from six hydropower plants may have found refuge in the tunnels.
At least three of the plants were under construction when the deluge of water, mud and rock crashed down the valley, killing more than 1,200 people overall. More than 4,000 people remain missing across the affected areas.
On Aug. 29, a government official requested layout drawings for the Chilime hydropower plant, located high in the Himalayan valley near the Chinese border. Minutes later, a group member provided drawings of the 22-megawatt project's powerhouse and details of its access tunnels. These exchanges, reviewed by Reuters, illustrate the real-time guidance offered by experts.
Nepal army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet said the flood significantly altered the terrain around the tunnels and changed their internal structure. Mud, rocks, soil and other debris accumulated inside, making rescue operations complex and different from a normal tunnel closure.
Images from Aug. 31 at Chilime showed a large tunnel entrance with flood debris rising to the ceiling a short distance inside. Despite these efforts, no one has yet been found alive in the tunnels at Chilime or other power plants further down the valley.
The Nepal's Independent Power Producers' Association stated on Aug. 31 that at least eight people could be trapped at the Chilime plant. An official at the Nepal Electricity Authority said 46 individuals may be trapped at the Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant, situated further south in the valley.
Rescue teams continue to search the buried remains of Chilime and five other affected facilities as the operation enters its second week. The flood deposited 2.2 million tonnes of mud and debris, making it difficult to even locate entrances to some tunnels, which were designed to channel water or provide access to facilities.
