India’s Tunnel Rescue Teams Reach Chilime, Probe 185 Metres at Nepal’s Langtang Site

India's specialised tunnel rescue teams have made progress at two flood-hit hydropower sites in Nepal, establishing a foothold inside a tunnel at Chilime and reaching up to 185 metres inside another tunnel at Langtang.

The rescue operations are being conducted with support from the Nepali Army despite difficult weather conditions and challenging access routes. The teams are searching for workers and employees who have remained missing since devastating flash floods struck northern and central parts of Nepal on August 26.

The floods caused extensive destruction, affecting homes, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands were reported missing in the aftermath of the disaster.

India has deployed specialised tunnel rescue teams to assist Nepal in locating people believed to be trapped inside hydropower tunnels. Teams from China are also supporting Nepal's rescue operations at several affected hydropower project sites.

At Chilime, the Indian team managed to establish a foothold inside a tunnel despite difficult access and adverse weather. Safety ropes were also installed inside the tunnel to support further rescue operations.

At the Langtang hydropower site, the Indian team, working alongside Nepali security personnel, managed to probe approximately 185 metres into the tunnel. Rescue teams are expected to continue their search as operations progress.

The Indian Ambassador to Nepal also visited the Nepali Army base in Bidur, Nuwakot, which is being used as a staging location for rescue and relief operations in the Rasuwa region.

During the visit, discussions were also held with Nepal's Home Minister Sudan Gurung and Energy and Water Resources Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha regarding India's assistance in the ongoing rescue and relief efforts.

India's support has extended beyond tunnel rescue operations. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 158 Indian nationals had been rescued from flood-affected areas in Nepal as of Monday.

A specialised Indian forensics team has also continued working in Kathmandu alongside Nepal Police's Forensic Science Laboratory. The teams are coordinating on protocols and documentation as part of the wider emergency response.

India's assistance in the disaster-hit country therefore includes multiple areas, including specialised tunnel searches, efforts to locate missing hydropower workers, evacuation of Indian nationals and forensic support.

The ongoing rescue operations at Chilime and Langtang remain particularly important because several workers are still unaccounted for following the floods. The difficult terrain, damaged infrastructure and unstable weather conditions continue to make the search challenging.

The progress made inside the two hydropower tunnels provides rescue teams with access to areas that were previously difficult to reach. Operations are expected to continue as teams work to determine the fate of those still missing.