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The three contracting companies working on the 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1 Hydroelectric Project (UT-1) are preparing to announce a subsistence relief package this week for the families of workers and employees affected by the devastating flood of August 26, 2026, project developer Nepal Water and Energy Development Company (NWEDC) announced in a press statement.

According to NWEDC, the relief package had been delayed as the companies prioritized supporting security agencies in the ongoing search and rescue operations at the project site.

The announcement follows the rescue of a worker on Saturday from one of the UT-1 project sites, after which NWEDC said it has redoubled its support to security agencies to continue efforts toward rescuing personnel who may still be trapped in debris.

The company stated it has compiled a list of individuals who were present at the various project sites at the time of the flooding, and will notify their families once the status of each worker has been confirmed.

Workforce Figures

At the time the flood struck, approximately 1,433 workers were present across the project sites, including personnel from the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractor Doosan Enerbility, and two sub-contractors - Power Construction Corporation of China and Andritz Hydro Pvt. Ltd.

As of Saturday, NWEDC reported that 876 workers and employees had been rescued, while 557 remained unaccounted for.

Company Statement

“We remain fully committed to supporting the ongoing search and rescue efforts,” the company said. “Our thoughts are with those affected by the flooding and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.”

NWEDC added that Doosan Enerbility, Power Construction Corporation of China, and Andritz Hydro continue working to ascertain the status of their respective personnel, which remains the top priority. The companies said they will inform affected families once information received from various sources - including government agencies - has been verified.

NWEDC said it will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide regular updates on worker status through its official website, nwedcpl.com.