Nepal Tunnel Disaster: Survivor Alleges Chinese Supervisor Left Workers Trapped
Kathmandu: A survivor of the devastating flash floods in Nepal has alleged that a Chinese supervisor fled from a hydropower tunnel after workers sensed danger and sought permission to escape, leaving hundreds of labourers trapped as floodwaters, mud and debris surged into the underground passage.
Raj Chhetri, who survived the disaster at the Upper Trishuli-3A Hydropower Project, said he and other workers were inside Tunnel No. 3 when they heard a sudden loud noise and realised something was wrong. He alleged that when workers asked a Chinese supervisor to let them out, the supervisor said he would go and check before leaving the tunnel. Chhetri claimed the supervisor did not return.
Local Nepali Workers of the Trishuli Hydropower Project accuse their Chinese supervisors of stopping them from escaping during the flash floods due to which they got stuck in the tunnels in shoulder deep water!
However, according to the workers their Chinese supervisor… pic.twitter.com/9o5V8YfHNQ
— India First Post (@ifpost47) September 3, 2026
According to Chhetri, around 265 workers were inside the tunnel when a torrent of water, mud and debris suddenly swept through the site. He said he managed to escape with three others, while two workers from his group remained missing. He also claimed that cries for help could be heard from inside the tunnel. These allegations have not been independently verified and are subject to investigation.
‘I’ll go and see’: Nepal worker alleges Chinese supervisor abandoned workers during flash flood
READ: https://t.co/zXVnjBAQyPhttps://t.co/zXVnjBAQyP
— WION (@WIONews) September 2, 2026
The incident has intensified concerns over worker safety, emergency warnings and evacuation procedures at Nepal’s hydropower projects. Rescue teams have faced major difficulties reaching missing workers because several tunnels have been blocked by mud and debris, while damaged roads and difficult mountainous terrain have slowed the operations.
The August 26 disaster, triggered by a glacier-related collapse near the Nepal-China border, devastated large parts of northern Nepal. Reuters reported that about 900 hydropower workers were believed to be trapped or missing, with rescue teams from Nepal, India, China and other countries working to reach possible survivors.
Meanwhile, families of missing workers have demanded faster and more intensive rescue operations. Authorities and technical teams continue clearing tunnels and using specialised equipment in an effort to determine whether workers remain alive inside underground chambers.
The survivor’s account has raised serious questions, but no official investigation has so far established that the Chinese supervisor abandoned the workers or was responsible for the deaths and disappearances.
