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The rescue operation for people believed to be trapped inside the 111 MW Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project has been disrupted after the powerhouse was found filled with mud and water following the devastating Bhotekoshi River flood.

The rescue team deployed to the project site was unable to enter the powerhouse after finding that the interior had been heavily inundated and buried in sediment.

“There is not very encouraging news. We had hoped that the inside might be open, but it appears that everything has been buried. It was not possible to enter, and I have been informed that the rescue team has returned,” said Narnath Neupane, secretary of Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Company Limited.

According to Neupane, the rescue team has returned to Dhunche after being unable to proceed with the operation at the project site.

The flood that swept through the Bhotekoshi River basin on August 26 (Bhadra 10) caused extensive destruction to hydropower projects and other infrastructure in the area.

The flood severely damaged the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, while other hydropower facilities in the Bhotekoshi basin also suffered major damage. The scale of debris, mud and water inside project structures has made rescue and recovery operations particularly difficult.

Rescue teams have been working to determine the condition and whereabouts of people who may have been trapped inside hydropower facilities following the disaster. However, blocked access points, accumulated sediment and flooded underground structures have complicated efforts to reach the affected areas.

Authorities and project officials are continuing to assess the situation and explore ways to safely access the powerhouse and other affected structures.

The latest setback comes as search and rescue operations continue across flood-hit Rasuwa and other districts, with security agencies and specialized teams deployed to locate missing people and assist those affected by the disaster.