Kathmandu, August 30 A rescue team has drilled five openings in an effort to sen

From Onlinekhabar English

Kathmandu, August 30 A rescue team has drilled five openings in an effort to send air into the tunnel of the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project, where dozens of employees are believed to be trapped following the devastating floods in Rasuwa. According to lawmaker and tunnel expert Shriram Neupane, the rescue team has so far been drilling openings and trying to assess the situation inside the tunnel. Neupane, who is at the rescue site, is leading the effort. “We are using excavators to dig and locate the tunnel slab, but we have encountered rock while digging,” Neupane told Onlinekhabar. “If there is not much rock, we should be able to locate the slab soon. Otherwise, we are also considering using explosives to try to enter the tunnel.” The rescue operation is being carried out by teams from the Nepali Army, Nepal Electricity Authority and other tunnel experts, Neupane said. According to Nepal Electricity Authority engineer Suraj Dahal, if an opening large enough for one or two people can be created, Nepali Army rescue experts will enter to assess the situation inside.