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The three companies involved in the construction of the 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1 Hydroelectric Project (UT-1) are preparing an immediate relief package for the families of workers and employees affected by the devastating floods of August 26, 2026.

The Nepal Water and Electricity Development Company (NWEDC), which is developing the project, said the relief package is expected to be announced this week. The announcement was delayed as the companies have been prioritizing support to security agencies involved in the ongoing search and rescue operations at the project sites.

The company said its support to security agencies was further intensified following the rescue of a worker from one of the UT-1 project sites on Saturday. The focus remains on locating and rescuing workers who may still be trapped beneath debris caused by the unprecedented flooding.

According to NWEDC, approximately 1,433 workers and employees were present at the different project sites when the flood struck. The workforce included employees of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor Doosan Enerbility, as well as two subcontractors, Power Construction Corporation of China and Andritz Hydro Pvt. Ltd.

As of Saturday, 876 workers and employees had been rescued, while 557 remained missing, according to the company.

NWEDC said it has compiled a list of people who were present at the various project sites at the time of the flooding. The company is working to verify the status of each worker before providing confirmed information to their families.

The company said the contractors and subcontractors are also working to establish the whereabouts of their workers and employees. Information received from government agencies and other sources is being verified before families are officially informed.

“Establishing the status of the workers and employees remains the first priority,” the company said, adding that it remains fully committed to supporting the ongoing search and rescue efforts.

The August 26 flooding caused severe disruption and destruction in the Upper Trishuli-1 project area, with a large number of workers caught at different project sites. The scale of the incident has made search and rescue operations particularly challenging.

NWEDC said it will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide regular updates on the status of workers and employees through its website.

The company also extended condolences to the families of those affected by the disaster and said its immediate priority remains supporting security agencies in the search for workers who may still be missing.