Nepal Floods: 350 Trapped In Trishuli Tunnel, Death Toll Nears 800 As Rescue Operations Underway

UPDATED: Aug 31, 2026 08:01 ISTRescue operations are underway in flash flood-hit Nepal as hundreds remain trapped inside hydropower tunnels, including 350 people inside the Upper Trishuli tunnel. Heavy machinery, oxygen supplies, and cameras are being deployed to clear debris, while 10,000 Nepali troops alongside specialist teams from India and China join the effort. Nepal has sought international assistance for the operation. The disaster's death toll is nearing 800, with 2,500 people missing, including over 275 Indian nationals. Rescuers have successfully evacuated 149 Indians so far as rescue teams navigate severe obstacles. Read MoreVIDEOS FROM OTHER SECTIONSLATEST VIDEOSPolitical Row Over RSS Chief's Unity Remarks In US; Opposition Attacks, BJP Defends SpeechA major political faceoff erupted after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat delivered a message on Hindu-Muslim unity in New York. Speaking in the United States, Mohan Bhagwat stated that a true Hindu can never exclude Muslims, even in a Hindu Rashtra, and emphasized India's civilizational ethos of coexistence. The opposition, including All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi and the Congress, criticized the remarks, alleging double standards and questioning why a similar message of unity is not practiced within India. In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party defended Mohan Bhagwat, accusing opposition parties of engaging in appeasement politics and selectively undermining his message.Security Downgrade Triggers Row In Tamil Nadu | VCK Opposes Move | BJP Terms It AdministrativeA political controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu following the downgrade of security cover from Z plus to Z for the former Chief Minister based on a Chennai police assessment citing reduced threat perception. The security reduction brings down the detail from fifty-four personnel to thirty-four. The move faced strong opposition from political ally VCK, with its chief calling the decision unacceptable and urging immediate restoration of the Z plus cover. Meanwhile, the BJP described the security adjustment as an administrative procedure rather than a political issue, noting that such security assessments are routine administrative matters.Tamil Nadu Ruling Alliance Clash Over 2029 Prime Minister Face as Congress Threatens Cabinet ExitA political debate has erupted in Tamil Nadu over the prime ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections within the ruling alliance between the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and the Congress. Congress ministers, including Tourism Minister Rajesh Kumar and Higher Education Minister P. Viswanathan, have warned that both Congress ministers will resign from the state cabinet if the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam does not accept Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate for 2029. The disagreement follows repeated statements by TVK ministers asserting that party chief Vijay will lead the nation in the future. Congress leaders dismissed these claims, stating that achieving the prime ministership requires the support of 272 members of parliament. Meanwhile, the latest India Today Sea Voter Mood of the Nation poll shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the preference for the top post with 49 percent support, followed by Rahul Gandhi at 27 percent, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay at third place with 9 percent support.Tamil Nadu Dalit Student Dies By Suicide After Alleged School HumiliationA 16-year-old Dalit student in Class 11 has died by suicide in Usilampatti near Madurai, Tamil Nadu, following alleged caste-based discrimination and humiliation at a government school. The victim's family alleged that the school's headmistress, Vimala Devi, scolded and humiliated the student after she objected to her mother being forced to stand with folded hands in submission. The family claims the resulting severe mental trauma and distress led to the student taking the extreme step. A case has been registered against Headmistress Vimala Devi as the family demands legal action and her arrest, while police continue their investigation into the matter.