India sends tunnel rescue team to Nepal after Trishuli flash floods

India has sent tunnel rescue and medical specialists to Nepal's flood-hit Trishuli region. The deployment underlines the scale of the disaster as workers remain missing and access stays blocked.An 11-member Indian team has reached Nepal to help rescue workers believed to be trapped inside tunnels at hydropower projects hit by flash floods. The team, made up of medical personnel and tunnel rescue specialists, arrived in Nepal on Friday and moved to the flood-affected Trishuli area in Nuwakot district on Saturday.Nepal sought India’s help after reports said more people could still be trapped, even as Nepali security forces rescued 191 workers from tunnels at various hydropower projects. A large number of workers remain unaccounted for after the floods, which swept through river corridors on Wednesday, killed hundreds of people and caused heavy damage to infrastructure.According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the Indian team carried out an aerial survey of the Chilime and Langtang areas before starting the required rescue work around the tunnel site. The authority said a specialised rescue team with equipment was expected to arrive in Nepal on Saturday night, based on the recommendations of the Indian team.An 82-member joint security team of Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police personnel has been working since Friday night to clear debris and reach those believed to be trapped inside the tunnel. Rescue work has been made difficult by mud and debris blocking the tunnel entrance, along with adverse weather conditions. Many of those missing are believed to be trapped inside tunnels linked to the Upper Trishuli-1 and Trishuli-3A hydropower projects in Rasuwa district near the Nepal-Tibet border, where rescue operations are under way. The flash floods swept through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors, damaging roads, bridges, settlements and hydropower infrastructure.Nepal has also sought foreign expertise for DNA testing, forensic work and other specialised tasks. Kathmandu has separately asked India and China to help build 42 Bailey bridges to restore transport services in the flood-hit areas. The portable bridges are designed for quick assembly without heavy machinery or special tools, as Nepal continues rescue and recovery efforts after the floods. With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 29, 2026 20:26 IST