India sends 68.5 tonnes of relief, bridge and tunnel expertise to flood hit Nepal

KATHMANDU, Aug 30: India has stepped up its assistance to Nepal following devastating flash floods, supplying 68.5 tonnes of relief materials and deploying specialised technical teams and equipment to support rescue and recovery operations in the worst affected areas.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said India has dispatched a technical contingent, including tunnel specialists, to assist with search and rescue operations at hydropower projects where workers are feared to remain trapped following the floods.

The fourth Indian flight carrying 11 tonnes of emergency assistance arrived in Nepal on Sunday, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The consignment included equipment for tunnel rescue operations, forensic resources for DNA identification and essential relief supplies.

The relief material included blankets, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, plastic sheets and hygiene kits for communities affected by the disaster.

An 11-member Indian technical team comprising doctors, paramedics and tunnel engineers reached Kathmandu on Friday. The team subsequently conducted an assessment of hydropower tunnels in the flood affected Trishuli region of Nuwakot district to determine the requirements for rescue operations.

The specialists also carried out an aerial survey of the Chilime and Langtang areas before beginning detailed work around the affected tunnel sites, Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said.

Nepal has been conducting extensive rescue operations to locate workers believed to be trapped inside hydropower tunnels. An 82-member joint security team, involving the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police, has been working since Friday night to remove accumulated debris and gain access to the affected tunnels.

Indian forensic specialists have also been deployed with equipment required for DNA analysis. Nepal had sought international assistance for specialised forensic work and identification efforts following the large-scale destruction caused by the floods.

Beyond emergency rescue operations, India is also supporting efforts to restore damaged transport infrastructure. The Indian embassy said 16 trucks carrying components for a 230-foot single-lane modular steel bridge have reached Nepal.

Equipment required to install seven additional Bailey bridges will be supplied shortly, while technical teams are expected to arrive soon to assist with their installation.

Nepal has requested support from both India and China for the construction of 42 Bailey bridges in areas where floods have disrupted road connectivity. Such modular bridges can be assembled relatively quickly and are designed to restore access in locations where conventional infrastructure has been damaged.

The Nepal Army said security forces have rescued 191 workers from tunnels at several hydropower projects across the country. However, concerns remain over workers who may still be trapped at facilities affected by the latest floods.

Some of the reported missing workers are believed to be inside tunnels associated with the Upper Trishuli-1 and Trishuli-3A hydropower projects in Rasuwa district, close to the Nepal-Tibet border.

Rescue operations have faced major challenges, including large quantities of mud and debris blocking tunnel entrances, difficult terrain and unfavourable weather conditions.

The flash floods swept through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction across parts of Nepal. Roads and bridges were damaged, settlements were inundated and critical hydropower infrastructure was affected.

With rescue operations continuing, India’s latest assistance combines immediate humanitarian support with specialised engineering, forensic and infrastructure capabilities aimed at helping Nepal tackle the disaster’s immediate and longer-term consequences.