Story perspectives

Army: 121 of 900 missing hydropower workers trapped underground

9/9/2026

Summary

Chief Justice Searches

Chief Justice Dharma Raj Upreti said searches focus on Chilime and Upper Trishuli 3A/3B tunnels.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah pledged no let-up in rescue work and urged Nepal’s spirit.
Rescuers saved three workers: two Nepalis on Sept 4 and a Chinese national on Sept 5.
Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan survived nine days trapped in Upper Trishuli 3A.
Army says about 121 of roughly 900 missing hydropower workers may be trapped underground.

Summary

China Censors Floods

China swiftly censored flood videos on domestic platforms, allowing only state-approved footage to remain online.
Chinese authorities took 11 days to grant foreign journalists permission to report from the Gyirong border area.
Former Nepal environment minister Madhav Prasad Chaulagain accused China of failing to warn Nepal about impending floods.
Chinese embassy in Kathmandu dismissed the criticism, saying the allegations aim to disrupt Sino-Nepal cooperation.

History

Historical Context

August 1975, Typhoon Nina caused Banqiao Dam and dozens of other reservoirs in Henan to fail, killing an estimated 85,600 people and prompting deployment of 42,618 PLA troops for rescue. The Chinese state then tightly controlled flood images and kept details hidden for years. Today, Nepal’s Upper Trishuli tunnel collapse, trapping over 900 workers, shows similar large-scale rescue drives and information restrictions.

1 of 3

Chief Justice Searches

Chief Justice Dharma Raj Upreti said searches focus on Chilime and Upper Trishuli 3A/3B tunnels.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah pledged no let-up in rescue work and urged Nepal’s spirit.
Rescuers saved three workers: two Nepalis on Sept 4 and a Chinese national on Sept 5.
Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan survived nine days trapped in Upper Trishuli 3A.
Army says about 121 of roughly 900 missing hydropower workers may be trapped underground.

1 / 3