Kathmandu: Search and rescue efforts continue at the Upper Trishuli-3 ‘B’ Hydropower Project, where a large number of people have been missing since the flood. Three large excavators have now been brought through the tunnel to within around 500 meters of the project site.
According to Ananda Dhungel, executive director of Trishuli Hydropower Company, the three excavators were successfully transported through the tunnel to a point approximately 500 meters from the project site at around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The excavators now need to be moved to the actual excavation area, for which an access road is being prepared. Dhungel said the work could take around two to three hours on Monday morning.
Once the access route is completed, excavation and search operations are expected to be intensified from Monday afternoon.
“We finally succeeded in bringing three large excavators through the tunnel to within about 500 meters of the project site at around 7:30 p.m. yesterday,” Dhungel said. “It may take two to three hours to prepare the road needed to take the excavators to the project site. We expect to intensify excavation from Monday afternoon and hope to see some results by the evening.”
Dhungel also expressed hope that the intensified rescue efforts would yield some results by Monday evening and urged people to pray for a positive outcome.
Search and rescue operations at the Upper Trishuli-3 ‘B’ Hydropower Project have remained challenging following the flood, which left a large number of people unaccounted for. Mud, sludge, debris and other materials have accumulated inside the project’s tunnel, making it difficult for rescue teams to reach areas where missing people may be located.
Rescue teams had previously been working to expand access to the project site through the tunnel and bring heavy equipment inside. With three large excavators now positioned around 500 meters from the site, authorities expect excavation and search operations to accelerate.
According to the latest information provided by Dhungel, the necessary access route will be prepared on Monday morning to take the excavators to the final work area. The three excavators will then be used to speed up excavation and search operations from the afternoon.
The latest progress has raised hopes among the rescue teams and families of those still missing. Bringing heavy machinery close to the project site is considered an important step toward increasing the pace of excavation and making tangible progress in the search.
“We hope to bring some results on today,” Dhungel said.
Jalasrokar