KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 18: Six bodies have been recovered from a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower project in Nepal's Nuwakot district as search and rescue operations continue following devastating flash floods that have claimed more than 1,400 lives.
The bodies were recovered from the Audit-3 tunnel by a joint team of security personnel, the Nepal Army said.
The flash floods were triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, causing widespread destruction across northern and central parts of Nepal.
According to the latest figures, at least 1,410 people have died, while 6,145 remain missing. Rescue teams have so far evacuated or rescued more than 13,756 people from affected areas.
The six bodies recovered from the Upper Trishuli-1 tunnel were reportedly found trapped inside a steel reinforcement mesh prepared for concrete work. Rescue teams used grinders, gas cutters and specialised rotary equipment to remove the bodies.
Search operations are continuing inside the tunnel, with rescuers suspecting that additional victims could still be buried beneath mud and debris.
A joint team, including foreign technicians, had earlier entered around 400 metres into the main access tunnel in an effort to locate missing workers.
Search and rescue operations are also underway at several other hydropower projects, including Rasuwagadhi, Rasuwa Bhotekoshi, Langtang, Trishuli-3A and Upper Trishuli-3B.
At the Chilime hydropower project, five bodies were recovered from a tunnel on Wednesday after Indian and Nepali rescue teams cleared large quantities of mud and debris blocking access to the underground powerhouse. No survivors were found.
Major Highways Reopen
Meanwhile, two major highways connecting Hetauda and Kathmandu—the Tribhuvan Highway and Kanti Highway—resumed regular two-way traffic from Friday, officials said.
The reopening followed the restoration of traffic at the Krishnabhir section of the Prithvi Highway in Dhading, which had been severely damaged after the August 26 floods.
Since September 1, authorities had implemented a traffic arrangement under which goods carriers and heavy vehicles used the Tribhuvan Highway to travel towards Kathmandu and the Kanti Highway while returning.
With the Krishnabhir section now operational, authorities have allowed regular two-way traffic on both highways, easing road connectivity between Kathmandu and Hetauda.
