KATHMANDU, Sept. 3 — Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that specialised tunnel rescue teams from India and China are working alongside the Nepal Army at critical hydropower tunnel sites, searching for missing workers after catastrophic flash floods on the Bhotekoshi River. The disaster has left more than a thousand people dead, with thousands more unaccounted for, including hundreds of foreign nationals from dozens of countries.
According to the Ministry, a 24-member Indian tunnel rescue team operating in two units is working with the Nepal Army at the Chilime and Langtang hydropower project sites. A nine-member Chinese team has been deployed at the Upper Trishuli 3A project site, while a specialised team from the Republic of Korea has also been mobilised.
The account indicates that over 21,000 security personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force have been deployed across disaster-stricken corridors.
Forensic and Identification Efforts
International forensic units have joined local authorities in the recovery effort. A 19-member Indian forensic DNA team has operated in Nepal since August 29, and a four-member Chinese forensic team arrived on September 2. Coordination is underway to deploy a Disaster Victim Identification team from Singapore, the Ministry said.
Regarding difficult recoveries, spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri noted that temporary burial has been carried out after forensic procedures, including DNA sample collection, to facilitate later identification. Nepal has requested specialised equipment including LiDAR technology, belly bridges, freezers, DNA testing kits, load carriers, human remains bags, high-capacity drones, and gene sequencers.
The Ministry said more than 11,800 people have been rescued so far, including hundreds of foreign nationals, five of whom remain in direct contact with authorities. Families of missing persons in Nepal are advised to contact the Nepal Police Hospital in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, or their nearest District Police Office. Relatives abroad can submit DNA profiles to the official email of the Nepal Police.
Regional Response
The Bhotekoshi River, which runs through a steep Himalayan corridor near the Nepal-Tibet border, has a history of sudden flood surges that have repeatedly damaged roads, bridges, and hydropower infrastructure in the region. The current disaster has drawn a broad international response, with the Ministry expressing gratitude to India, China, Japan, the United States, the UAE, South Korea, and other international partners for relief supplies and financial solidarity.
Chhetri stated, “As we have stated, our immediate national priority remains clear: to save lives, locate those who are missing, rescue survivors, provide urgent relief, and ensure that all affected people, both Nepali and foreign nationals, receive appropriate assistance and support.” Officials said the immediate focus remains on tunnel rescue operations, where workers were trapped when floodwaters inundated the project sites.
With forensic teams now on the ground and international equipment requests pending, the coming days will likely centre on expanding the identification process for the missing while rescue teams continue to probe the tunnel networks.
