Rescue Efforts Underway for 900+ People Trapped in Nepal Tunnels
Listen to the story
More than 900 people are trapped in tunnels in Nepal after severe flooding hit the country. Rescue teams are now trying different methods to reach them safely.
One of the tunnels is part of the Trishuli-3A hydropower project, which uses river water to produce electricity. Workers there attempted a controlled blast to clear a path out of the tunnel, but the explosion failed to open a way through.
Reports say that water and blocked iron structures are making the rescue operation very difficult. Teams are still searching for a safe way to reach the trapped workers and residents.
The flooding has also caused deaths in the area. Rescue workers are using a helicopter to airlift the bodies of victims to Trishuli, a nearby town, for identification and further processing.
Authorities have not given a clear timeline for when the trapped people might be freed. The rescue operation continues, with teams facing ongoing risks from unstable water levels and debris inside the tunnels.
The situation highlights the dangers linked to sudden and heavy flooding in mountainous regions like Nepal, where infrastructure such as tunnels and hydropower stations can quickly become dangerous during natural disasters.
Vocabulary8 words
- tunnel
- a long passage built through rock or under the ground
- rescue
- the act of saving someone from a dangerous situation
- hydropower
- electricity produced using the force of moving water
- blast
- a strong explosion used to break or open something
- helicopter
- an aircraft that can fly straight up and hover
- bodies
- the dead bodies of people who have died
- debris
- broken pieces of material left after damage
- infrastructure
- basic systems like roads, tunnels, and power stations
Quiz
Answer key
1. Severe flooding 2. The blast failed to clear a way out 3. By helicopter
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
More than 900 people are trapped in _____ in Nepal after severe _____ hit the country.
One of the tunnels is part of the Trishuli-3A _____ project, which uses river water to produce electricity.
Workers there attempted a controlled _____ to clear a path out, but it failed.
Water and blocked iron structures are making the _____ operation very difficult.
Rescue workers are using a _____ to airlift the _____ of victims to Trishuli.
Authorities have not given a clear _____ for when the trapped people might be freed.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think tunnels become especially dangerous during floods?
- What challenges do rescue teams face when water blocks an underground space?
- Why might a blast fail to open a safe path through a blocked tunnel?
- How can countries better prepare infrastructure like tunnels for extreme weather events?