Following the sudden flood along the border between Nepal and China, two survivors were successfully rescued on Saturday (September 5), 10 days after the disaster struck. Among them was a Chinese man who had been trapped inside a tunnel.
The Nepalese Department of Disaster Management stated on Friday (September 4) that the flood last week had resulted in at least 1,344 deaths in Nepal, with 4,887 people missing, including 583 foreign nationals, most of whom were pilgrims and trekkers. Authorities estimated that around 900 individuals were trapped inside tunnels of various hydropower projects in Nepal.
The Nepalese military announced that Chinese citizen Lu Haitao was rescued on Saturday from a 225-meter-long tunnel at the Upper Trishuli 1 hydropower project.
Lu Haitao is the third survivor successfully rescued so far in the rescue operations within the tunnels of multiple hydropower projects in Nepal.
Authorities in Nepal reported that Lu Haitao had no apparent external injuries, with stable vital signs but showing signs of mild hypothermia. Video footage released by the military showed Lu Haitao receiving emergency medical care in a helicopter before being transported to a military hospital. He appeared exhausted, dazed, covered in dried mud on his skin and clothes, as medical personnel examined him.
In Betrawati, approximately 13 kilometers (8 miles) away from the rescue site of Lu Haitao, 60-year-old Chandika Srestha was also rescued on Saturday. The distance highlights the vast operational area for the rescue teams. Srestha was found on the top floor of a four-story building.
Srestha’s husband remains missing at this time.
“Her house was buried under debris,” said administrative officer Ganesh Nepal, adding that rescue teams had been searching the area continuously for several days but had not been able to locate Srestha sooner.
Ten days have passed since the disaster, and the families of the missing individuals continue to hold onto hope for a miracle. In Maithili Barrack in Nuwakot, families have covered the walls with missing posters, featuring photos of their loved ones believed to be trapped inside the tunnels.
One of the pictures is of Ishwor Poudel, the brother of Krishna Poudel. Ishwor had been working in the tunnels of the Haku Besi hydropower project for the past three years.
Krishna mentioned that the last time he heard from Ishwor was on August 26, right after the floods had swept through the valley.
“At 7:30 in the morning, he called me before going to work in the tunnel. Around 11:30, after the flood receded, I finally reached him. He told me, ‘I am trapped inside the tunnel.'”
Since then, the family has been unable to contact him, but they still hold onto hope. Survivors who managed to escape from the same tunnel have informed them that Ishwor is alive.
(This article is based on a report by Reuters.)