Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Four bodies have been recovered from the tunnel of the Chilime Hydropower Project following the devastating Bhotekoshi floods on August 26.
A joint team of the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal and other agencies recovered the bodies, according to APF Nepal.
“One body has been taken out of the tunnel while three are being taken out,” APF Nepal Joint Spokesperson DSP Shailendra Thapa said.
According to the Nepali Army’s Directorate of Public Relations and Information, a joint search and rescue team was mobilized to rescue those trapped inside the tunnel. The directorate said an excavator and loader were flown to Syabrubesi and used to break rocks and create an approximately 1,050-meter passage to bring equipment into the tunnel.
During the rescue operation, the team found a hole inside the tunnel, about 70 meters from the entrance, from which water was flowing. The rescue team entered through the opening and searched up to about 130 meters inside, but rising water had reached the upper section of the tunnel, making it impossible to use an excavator.
The team, including divers, then entered through the opening and searched up to the far end of the tunnel, where three bodies were found, the directorate said. Further search and rescue operations are underway at the site.
