Nepal Army Rescues Two Workers Trapped in Upper Trishuli Tunnel.

The Nepali Army rescued two workers trapped inside a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli 3A hydropower plant in Rasuwa District on Tuesday, a week after the monsoon floods that devastated large swathes of Nepal. The operation, carried out by a specialised mountain‑rescue unit, took several hours and concluded with the victims being air‑lifted to the nearest medical centre for treatment. The incident highlights the army’s expanding role in civilian disaster response following the unprecedented rainfall that left more than 130 kilometres of roads washed away and forced thousands to evacuate in the central highlands.

The rescue comes amid a broader recovery effort after the June floods, which were among the worst in Nepal’s recent history. Heavy rains triggered landslides and swollen rivers, inundating villages along the Trishuli basin and damaging critical infrastructure, including the Upper Trishuli 3A project—a 60‑megawatt run‑of‑river scheme intended to boost the country’s renewable‑energy capacity. The plant, still under construction, relies on a series of tunnels and penstocks that channel water from the river to turbines downstream. When the floodwaters surged, the tunnel entrance collapsed, sealing the two engineers inside and prompting an urgent call for assistance from the plant’s contractors.

The Nepali Army, officially renamed from the Royal Nepali Army in 2008 after the abolition of the monarchy, has a long‑standing tradition of involvement in both combat and humanitarian missions. Originating in the mid‑16th century as the Gorkhali Army of the Gorkha Kingdom, it later expanded its remit during the unification campaigns of the 18th century and has since participated in numerous regional conflicts and United Nations peace‑keeping operations. In recent decades, the force has been increasingly tasked with domestic disaster relief, a shift driven by Nepal’s vulnerability to earthquakes, landslides and seasonal floods. The army’s mountain‑rescue teams, trained for high‑altitude and difficult terrain, have become a key asset for civil authorities, often filling gaps left by under‑resourced local emergency services.

Government officials praised the swift response, noting that the army’s logistical capabilities—such as helicopter lift capacity and rapid‑deployment engineering units—were instrumental in reaching the isolated tunnel site. The Ministry of Energy, Water and Irrigation, which oversees the hydropower sector, said the incident would not delay the plant’s projected commissioning date in 2025, but it underscored the need for stricter safety protocols during extreme weather events. Contractors have pledged to reinforce tunnel entrances and improve early‑warning systems, while the army’s involvement is expected to be part of a broader framework for disaster risk reduction that includes community drills and infrastructure audits.

The rescue also draws attention to the strategic importance of hydropower in Nepal’s development agenda. The nation aims to increase its electricity generation from renewable sources to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and to export surplus power to neighbouring India and Bangladesh. However, the sector’s growth is increasingly challenged by climate‑induced hazards that threaten construction timelines and operational safety. As Nepal seeks foreign investment and technical assistance for its ambitious energy roadmap, demonstrating robust emergency response capabilities is essential for maintaining investor confidence and ensuring that projects can withstand climatic shocks.

For Taiwan and the wider Indo‑Pacific region, the episode offers a case study in how militaries can support civilian resilience in the face of climate‑related disasters. Taiwan’s own experience with typhoons and earthquakes has prompted the island to integrate its armed forces into national emergency management plans, a model that mirrors Nepal’s evolving approach. Moreover, the Upper Trishuli 3A project is part of a network of trans‑border water resources that feed into the Ganges‑Brahmaputra basin, a watershed of growing geopolitical significance. Reliable hydropower development in Nepal contributes to regional energy security and can reduce pressure on downstream water users, aligning with broader initiatives to promote sustainable infrastructure and cooperative disaster mitigation across South and East Asia.