Nepal Recovers Four Bodies from Hydropower Tunnel Weeks After Flood

Rescuers in Nepal have recovered four bodies and a body part from the tunnel of the Chilime Hydropower plant, located on the Trishuli River, three weeks after a devastating flash flood killed hundreds and left thousands missing. The bodies were found Wednesday.

Nepal's army stated that five more bodies were located in a different area, and equipment is being sent for their recovery. Since the flooding on August 26, a total of 1,403 bodies have been recovered, while 6,150 people remain unaccounted for, according to Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

Families of those still missing are pressuring authorities to accelerate rescue and recovery operations, particularly from the hydropower plant tunnels. They have organized rallies and many are requesting that the government officially declare the missing as deceased. This would enable them to obtain death certificates, which are necessary for legal proceedings, religious rites, and to begin the process of emotional closure.

At the Tribhuvan University Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, photos of hundreds of missing individuals adorn the lobby walls, where relatives gather in hopes of news.

Usha Khatri, whose husband Indra Bahadur was working as a cook with a group of pilgrims when the flood hit the Nepal-China border, has been searching for him in towns along the river where bodies have been found. She expressed frustration with the government's response, stating, "The government has not done much for us. They have not met us or given any information or any assurances. I am by myself searching for my husband."

Thirteen hydropower plants were damaged by the floods, with many workers swept away or trapped by the torrent and debris. Rescuers have prioritized finding these trapped workers, but access to the tunnels has been severely hampered by thick mud, debris, and damaged infrastructure.

In the days following the flood, two Nepali workers were found alive on September 4, followed by a Chinese worker rescued from a separate area the next day. The government has estimated the country's reconstruction costs to be around $4.78 billion.