Rescuers in Nepal are stepping up efforts to find scores of workers believed to be trapped in tunnels, nine days after the devastating flash floods which hit the area on the border with Tibet in China.
Hopes have risen after two people were pulled out alive on Friday. The body of a third person was also found in one of the tunnels used to supply hydropower stations.
The massive flash flood, believed to have been triggered by a glacial collapse, swept through a Himalayan valley last Wednesday, wiping out entire villages.
There are now 1,311 confirmed dead and 5,330 still missing in Nepal and Tibet. Hundreds of foreign citizens are believed to be among those missing, from at least 34 countries.
The full impact of the flood in Tibet is unclear. China has released information through state media outlets showing the devastation around the border, but has given few details about the victims or the impact on local villagers.
In Nepal, however, rescue operations are taking place at seven hydropower tunnels in which more than 150 people are feared trapped – as well as in 19 other areas.
In the early hours of Friday morning, rescuers heard what they thought could be voices at the Trishuli 3A hydropower site.
According to local reports, they called out “don’t worry, we’re here to rescue you” – and heard back a faint “okay”.
Crews clambered in to find Sanjaya Shah and Kabir Maharjan – both had injuries on their hands and legs, “possibly” from crawling through the tunnel. Both were airlifted to the Army Hospital in the capital, Kathmandu.
Maharjan, who was rescued second, is in a critical condition, the prime minister’s office said. Shah was also undergoing medical tests.
The body of a third person was found in the same tunnel later. A local official said it was swollen and could not be immediately identified.
Officials believe another 39 people are in the Trishuli 3A tunnel, although it is not clear if all are alive.
Col Jhabindra Reshmi said that his teams had rescued more than 400 Nepali nationals and 270 foreign citizens following the flash flooding on 26 August.
He has said mud and rocks have made entering tunnels difficult and rescuers were having to dig access holes to get underground.
Engineers have been pumping air into the tunnels.
Last week’s floodwaters washed away a lot of heavy machinery, making it harder for rescuers to unblock tunnels, says a representative for Nepalese power companies.
Uttam Bhlon Lama, vice president at Independent Power Producers of Nepal, told the BBC’s Newsday programme that the rescue of the two men on Friday would “motivate the rescuers to do more”.
“The flood level is still very high,” Lama added.
Nepalese authorities have warned that rainfall may cause additional flooding in the region.
At least 1,287 people are known to have died in Nepal, with 5,083 still missing.
On the Tibetan side, the death toll reported by Chinese media on Friday was 31, with 531 people unaccounted for.
Emergency teams in Tibet appear to be focusing on helping the living rather than holding out hope for more survivors.
Scientists are still studying the exact cause, but it is believed to have been caused by a glacial collapse and climate change may have been a factor.
Moments after the seismic event, which was initially thought to have been an earthquake, a massive wall of water and debris crashed downstream, taking buildings, roads and vehicles with it.
Experts from the Asian Mountain Academic Alliance, the Stimson Centre and China’s Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment said there was evidence of growing instability around the glacier in the days before the collapse and better early-warning systems could have saved lives.
