Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Minister for Home Affairs Sudan Gurung Tuesday said that the government was making every possible effort to rescue people trapped in tunnels of several hydropower projects following the Bhotekoshi floods.
Speaking at a press conference held at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Minister Gurung said the government had not given up hope and would continue the rescue efforts.
“We are continuing our efforts and have not lost hope. We have located the upper section of the tunnel and launched search and rescue efforts. The state will not shirk its responsibility,” he said.
Gurung said all available government mechanisms had been mobilized to search for and rescue people who went missing following the floods.
“The security agencies are working with full force. When the team went to search at Trishuli-3A, there was a swamp and even an excavator got submerged,” he said. “We have now managed to reach the crown of the tunnel and are trying to determine whether we can enter by excavating from above the powerhouse.”
He dismissed claims that the government was unwilling to seek foreign assistance for the search and rescue operations.
“Drones have also been sent into various tunnels. Efforts to rescue those inside the tunnels are continuing, and there is still hope,” he said. “We hope that the people inside the tunnels may have survived by drinking water available there.”
Gurung said the government was making maximum use of available resources for search, rescue and relief operations following the disaster.
Gurung said an early warning SMS was sent to people in the flood-affected areas at 9:15 a.m., following which security personnel used loudspeakers to urge residents in riverbank areas to move to safer locations.
