A specialised 11-member Indian rescue team has commenced on-site reconnaissance of hydropower tunnels in Nepal's flash flood-hit districts of Rasuwa and Nuwakot, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu confirmed on Saturday, 29 August. The team — comprising doctors, paramedics, and tunnel rescue specialists — was dispatched at Nepal's request to assist in locating and evacuating people believed to be trapped inside tunnels following the catastrophic floods of 26 August.

Where the Operation Stands

The Indian technical team reached the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project in Rasuwa district, where rescue efforts are concentrated. According to Nepal's Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the team planned an initial aerial reconnaissance of the Chilime and Langtang areas by helicopter before proceeding with ground-level operations as required.

Simultaneously, a joint Nepali security contingent of 82 personnel — including 62 members of the Nepali Army and 20 personnel from the Armed Police Force Nepal and Nepal Police — has been continuously deployed since Friday night to clear the tunnel entrance and accelerate the search.

Scale of the Crisis

The Independent Power Producers' Association, Nepal (IPPAN) has reported that as many as 934 people associated with 11 hydropower projects across Rasuwa and Nuwakot remain out of contact. Of these, 730 people linked to six projects in Rasuwa and 204 people connected to five projects in Nuwakot are unaccounted for following the Bhote Koshi River floods.

In total, 13 hydropower projects with a combined installed capacity of 675.6 MW were affected by the 26 August floods, according to IPPAN, underscoring the scale of infrastructure damage in the two districts.

Challenges Slowing the Rescue

'The rescue efforts have become highly challenging due to the adverse weather conditions prevailing in the area,' the PMO said in a statement. With local expertise stretched thin, Nepal reached out to both India and China for specialised assistance — a reflection of the operation's complexity and urgency.

The Indian Embassy noted that India remains engaged with Nepali authorities specifically on the search and rescue of Indian nationals caught in the disaster. Separately, the First Secretary (Commerce) at the Indian Embassy met Indian workers recently rescued from the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project to assess their safety and well-being.

India's Broader Support Role

The Embassy confirmed that India continues to support Nepal's ongoing relief and rescue efforts beyond the tunnel operation. This is consistent with India's established pattern of rapid disaster response in Nepal — the two countries share deep infrastructure and humanitarian ties, and Indian teams have previously assisted in the aftermath of Nepal's major earthquakes and flood events.

With weather conditions remaining hostile and hundreds still unaccounted for, the pace of the operation will hinge on the aerial reconnaissance findings and whether ground access to blocked tunnel entrances can be restored in the coming days.