KATHMANDU, Nepal: More than 500 engineers are using WhatsApp to guide Nepal’s flood-rescue efforts, sharing tunnel plans with teams searching for hydropower sites buried by the August 26 disaster.
The group existed before the flood struck the Trishuli valley but was expanded to connect rescuers with engineers familiar with the damaged plants. Members have shared powerhouse layouts, access-tunnel drawings and information on missing workers in real time.
In one exchange seen by Reuters, a government official asked the group for drawings of the Chilime Hydropower Plant while teams searched its buried tunnels. An engineer responded within minutes with plans showing the powerhouse and access routes.
The technical help is crucial because the flood dumped an estimated 2.2 million tonnes of mud and debris through the valley, obscuring tunnel entrances and changing the terrain around several hydropower facilities. Around 900 workers were initially reported missing from six projects covered by the Reuters investigation.
At Rasuwagadhi, rescuers reached about 250 metres into one tunnel before debris blocked further progress. At Upper Trishuli 3A, teams spent days clearing the entrance and used drawings and advice from current and former plant personnel to map possible routes.
The search produced a breakthrough on September 4, when workers Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan were pulled alive from the Upper Trishuli 3A tunnel nine days after the flood. Nepali Army spokesperson Brigadier General Raja Ram Basnet said rescue operations were continuing for others believed trapped inside.
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Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said specialist tunnel-rescue teams from India, China and South Korea were also working alongside the Nepali Army at several affected hydropower sites.
