Indian army teams join Nepali forces in tunnel rescue after flash floods

Following flash floods that battered Nepal's Rasuwa district, the Indian army deployed technical teams trained for confined-space rescue to support the Nepali Army at the Chilime and Langtang tunnel sites. In Chilime, Indian personnel established a foothold at the tunnel mouth and installed safety ropes despite poor weather and difficult terrain. At Langtang, the joint team advanced 185 metres into the tunnel, conducting a careful search amid unstable conditions.

The deployment reflects a long-standing disaster-relief partnership that dates back to the 2015 earthquake, when Indian forces provided extensive aid. Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava inspected the operation at the Nepali Army base in Bidur, Nuwakot, and met with Nepal's home minister and the minister for energy and water resources to discuss relief logistics and flood damage. The Indian army’s Corps of Engineers and air force have previously taken part in similar mountain rescue missions, including a two-week tunnel operation that saved 41 workers. Officials say the search will continue over the next several days.