In Flood-Stricken Nepal, a Cool Gust Carries Hopes of a Miracle Rescue, tell me about this news in (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/12/world/asia/nepal-floods-himalayas-hydropower-tunnel.html)

12-09-2026

This report covers the rescue operations in the Himalayan region of Nepal following catastrophic flash floods and debris flows triggered by a major glacial and rock collapse along the Nepal–Tibet border.Key Developments and Context
  • The Disaster: Massive flash floods tore down mountain river valleys, killing over 1,300 people, leaving thousands missing, and sweeping away critical infrastructure, roads, and villages across districts like Rasuwa and Nuwakot.
  • Trapped Hydropower Workers: The flooding severely damaged a dozen hydroelectric facilities, including the Trishuli 3A project. Hundreds of workers were reported missing or trapped inside deep underground tunnels, caverns, and control rooms buried under massive volumes of mud and boulders.
  • The “Cool Gust” and Signs of Life: As days passed and chances of survival appeared to dim, rescue operations focused on locating sealed air pockets within the subterranean tunnel networks. Breakthroughssuch as detecting cool airflows, ventilation drafts (“cool gusts”), or faint shouts through drilled fissures and cleared access pointsindicated that interior chambers had not completely flooded and that air remained breathable.
  • Dramatic Rescues: Against steep odds more than a week after the disaster, joint search teams consisting of Nepali military personnel and international rescue specialists successfully pulled out trapped workers alive from depths exceeding 150 to 200 meters inside the tunnels.
  • Ongoing Multi-Tunnel Effort: The operation has been described by international underground rescue experts as an unprecedented challenge, requiring simultaneous, high-risk excavations across multiple unstable tunnel systems to reach remaining pockets where other workers might still be trapped.


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