Six Bodies Recovered from Trishuli Hydropower Audit-3 Tunnel; Search Operations Ongoing
A joint rescue team has extracted six bodies trapped inside the Audit-3 tunnel of the **Trishuli Hydropower Project-1** following devastating Bhote Koshi floods in Rasuwa. According to the **Nepal Army**, search operations remain underway as more bodies are suspected to be buried under mud within the tunnel.
Following devastating floods in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa, a joint rescue team successfully recovered six bodies trapped inside the Audit-3 tunnel of the Trishuli Hydropower Project-1. According to the Nepal Army, the rescue team utilized specialized equipment, including grinder gas cutters and rotary rescue tools, to extract the deceased.
The Army reported that the bodies were found tangled within the rebar mesh previously prepared for tunnel concreting. The recovery required intricate technical operations given the challenging conditions inside the structure.
Preliminary inspections indicate that additional body-like shapes remain covered under heavy mud inside the tunnel, prompting intensified search efforts in the area. The joint rescue operation is currently focusing on:
- Intensive searching for additional suspected victims buried under mud
- Continuous deployment of specialized technical and cutting equipment
- Managing safety and operational risk mitigations at the project site
The severe flood damage to the hydropower infrastructure alongside the loss of human life poses significant operational and financial setbacks for the project's timeline.