{"id":25746,"date":"2026-09-19T14:42:38","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T08:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=25746"},"modified":"2026-09-19T14:42:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T08:57:38","slug":"bodies-still-being-recovered-from-tunnel-as-citizens-demand-answers-serious-questions-over-nepals-disaster-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=25746","title":{"rendered":"Bodies Still Being Recovered from Tunnel as Citizens Demand Answers: Serious Questions Over Nepal\u2019s Disaster Response<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dragon Media Correspondent<\/strong><\/p>\n

The recovery of 11 more bodies from the Adit-3 tunnel of the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project on Saturday has raised serious questions about rescue operations and government accountability following the devastating floods. The bodies were found trapped in steel reinforcement mesh and buried in mud as search operations continued for people who went missing during the August 26 disaster. A joint rescue team, including representatives of the hydropower project, recovered the remains.<\/p>\n

More than three weeks after the disaster, bodies are still being recovered from tunnels at affected hydropower projects. The continuing operations highlight not only the complexity of underground rescue efforts but also questions concerning Nepal\u2019s disaster preparedness, the availability of specialised equipment, inter-agency coordination, and the effectiveness of emergency decision-making.<\/p>\n

Public reactions on social media have reflected growing dissatisfaction with the government. Some citizens have questioned whether delays in rescue operations contributed to additional casualties and have challenged the priorities and conduct of the political leadership. Beyond the harsh language used in some reactions, the underlying demand for public accountability deserves serious attention.<\/p>\n

The effectiveness of disaster management cannot be measured solely by the number of personnel deployed, relief announcements, or decisions taken at government meetings. It must also be assessed by how quickly rescuers reached people in danger, when essential equipment became available, how operational obstacles were overcome, and how promptly affected families received reliable information.<\/p>\n

Time and Equipment: Critical Questions in Tunnel Rescue Operations<\/h3>\n

Recovering bodies trapped in steel reinforcement structures inside the Adit-3 tunnel of the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project required specialised cutting equipment and rescue techniques. The conditions demonstrate that operations inside the tunnel were considerably more complex than conventional rescue work. Mud, debris, steel structures, restricted access routes, and additional safety risks can significantly affect the pace of rescue operations. However, the existence of difficult conditions does not eliminate legitimate questions about preparedness and management.<\/p>\n

As Nepal continues to construct and operate major hydropower projects, an assessment is needed of whether sufficient specialised equipment and trained personnel are available for immediate deployment in the event of flooding, landslides, or structural accidents inside underground tunnels.<\/p>\n

The government should disclose how many people were reported missing at each affected project from the first day of the disaster, what equipment was required to enter the tunnels, when that equipment became available, and how rescue priorities were determined.<\/p>\n

An impartial examination of allegations concerning delayed rescue operations requires an official chronology of events. Similarly, determining how many lives might have been saved through earlier intervention would require technical and medical evidence rather than speculation.<\/p>\n

Missing Persons and the Credibility of Government Information<\/h3>\n

Citing government figures available by September 18, The Kathmandu Post reported that 1,410 bodies had been recovered and 6,145 people remained missing following the disaster. Earlier, on September 16, Reuters reported approximately 5,200 missing persons based on figures from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. These figures relate to different reporting dates and have continued to change as search and verification operations progress.<\/p>\n

Claims that thousands of people died at the Upper Trishuli-1 project alone have not been substantiated. The number of missing persons and the number of confirmed deaths are separate categories and must be presented distinctly in public reporting.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, when large numbers of citizens remain unaccounted for, the government has a responsibility to provide regular, consolidated, and transparent information. Weaknesses in search operations, identification procedures, and communication with families can deepen the suffering of those affected.<\/p>\n

In addition to national statistics, separate and regularly updated information should be published for each affected project. This would help prevent duplication of names across different lists, confusion between missing and deceased persons, and the circulation of contradictory information among families.<\/p>\n

Government Efforts and Their Results<\/h3>\n

Following the disaster, the Nepal government mobilised the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and other relevant agencies. According to government reports, technical assistance and equipment provided by countries including China, India, South Korea, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia were also used in search and rescue operations.<\/p>\n

According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement issued on September 6, a total of 13,104 people had been rescued by that date. The ministry also reported that two Nepali nationals had been rescued alive from Upper Trishuli-3A and one Chinese national from Upper Trishuli-1.<\/p>\n

These efforts deserve to be documented. However, official accounts of achievements should also be accompanied by transparent assessments of operational weaknesses, equipment shortages, possible delays in decision-making, and lessons for future disaster response.<\/p>\n

The government should communicate with equal seriousness about those successfully rescued and those who could not be reached. Such transparency is essential to maintaining public confidence in state institutions.<\/p>\n

Accountability of the Prime Minister and Relevant Agencies<\/h3>\n

In disaster management, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers are responsible for policy direction, resource mobilisation, inter-agency coordination, and oversight of overall results. Technical decisions at individual rescue sites, however, must be made by qualified specialists and agencies operating in the field.<\/p>\n

Attributing the entire human toll to a single individual would therefore be an insufficient analysis, just as treating every operational weakness as an unavoidable consequence of a natural disaster would be inadequate. Political, administrative, and technical responsibilities must be examined separately.<\/p>\n

In this case, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, security agencies, and the management of the affected hydropower project all have questions to answer within their respective areas of responsibility.<\/p>\n

A public report is particularly necessary on the initial assessment of rescue equipment requirements, the timing of requests for international assistance, the deployment of equipment received, safety standards for tunnel entry, and the priorities established for locating missing persons.<\/p>\n

An independent technical assessment could determine whether rescue operations were actually delayed, identify the causes of any such delays, and establish their possible consequences.<\/p>\n

Justice for Victims and Reconstruction<\/h3>\n

The government\u2019s responsibility does not end with search and rescue operations. Identifying the deceased, returning their remains to families, providing relief, ensuring rehabilitation, rebuilding damaged infrastructure, and restoring livelihoods are equally important.<\/p>\n

According to a Reuters report published on September 16, DNA samples had been collected from 1,206 unidentified bodies and relatives of 1,889 missing persons. However, only 105 bodies had been identified and returned to their families by that date. These figures illustrate the considerable challenges involved in victim identification and family reunification.<\/p>\n

Ensuring the identification of every deceased person and providing reliable information to their families is a fundamental humanitarian responsibility of the state. The success of reconstruction cannot be declared while families of missing persons remain trapped in uncertainty.<\/p>\n

Safe resettlement for families who lost their homes, social protection for affected workers, and future risk assessments of hydropower projects must also become national priorities.<\/p>\n

Conclusion: Citizens\u2019 Lives Must Be the Measure of State Accountability<\/h3>\n

The recovery of 11 additional bodies from the Upper Trishuli-1 tunnel provides Nepal with an opportunity to undertake a serious institutional review of its disaster management system. The efforts of security personnel, technical specialists, and supporting rescue teams can be acknowledged while government preparedness, coordination, and decision-making are subjected to impartial examination.<\/p>\n

The questions raised by affected families and citizens must be answered through evidence, transparent reporting, and a clear determination of responsibilities rather than political accusations and counter-accusations.<\/p>\n

Every responsible institution, from the Prime Minister\u2019s Office to project management, must account publicly for its role and performance. Identifying and implementing necessary reforms can strengthen the country\u2019s capacity to save more lives in future disasters.<\/p>\n

Every body recovered from the tunnel represents more than a statistic. It represents a member of a family, a life cut short, and human suffering that continues to demand answers from the state. The ultimate measure of disaster management must therefore be not government announcements, but the protection of human life, justice for victims, and the development of stronger capabilities to safeguard citizens against future disasters.<\/p>\n

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