Rescuers in Nepal have recovered four bodies from the tunnel of the Chilime hydropower plant. This operation took place three weeks after a devastating flood on August 26 that resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands missing.
Discovery of Bodies and Ongoing Search Operations
According to the Nepal Army, four bodies were recovered on Wednesday from the tunnel of the Chilime plant located on the Trishuli River. Additionally, the Nepal Disaster Management Authority announced that five more bodies have been identified at another location, and the necessary equipment has been dispatched for their recovery.
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The total number of bodies recovered since the flood has reached 1,403, and 6,150 people are still missing. Families of the missing are pressuring the authorities to expedite the rescue and recovery efforts.
Families' Pressure on the Government
Families have held gatherings, and many have urged the government to declare the missing as deceased so they can obtain death certificates. This would help them proceed with legal processes and religious rites, providing some peace of mind.
At the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, the lobby walls are filled with photos of hundreds of the missing. Relatives come to this place seeking news of their loved ones. Usha Khatri, the wife of Indra Bahadur, who was working as a cook with a group of pilgrims at the time of the flood, has been searching for him in various towns along the river's path.
Khatri said, "The government has done nothing for us. They have not met with us and have not provided any information or reassurance. I am searching for my husband alone."
A total of 13 hydropower plants have been damaged due to the flooding, and many workers are either drowning or trapped by water or debris. Finding the workers caught in these conditions has been a priority for the government and rescuers. However, access to the tunnels has been challenging for rescue teams due to mud, debris, and damaged infrastructure.
Two Nepali workers were found alive on September 4, a few days after the flood. A day later, a Chinese worker was also rescued from a separate area.
The government has estimated the cost of rebuilding the country to be around $4.78 billion.
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Source: abcnews.com
