Nepal Flood Rescue: Drone Pilot Aids Tunnel Search at Hydropower Site

A filmmaker and drone pilot has joined rescue operations in Nepal's Rasuwa District, deploying aerial technology to assist teams searching a flooded tunnel at the Rasuwagadhi hydropower project. Manish Maharjan, who had returned from Tibet through the nearby border crossing just two days before the disaster, is now using his professional expertise to support the effort.

Rescue teams have been navigating treacherous conditions inside the tunnel, where high water levels and debris have made progress extremely difficult. In audio captured during the operation, rescuers can be heard communicating about the challenges, with one noting that visibility is nearly zero and that the water level is "quite high," making it "almost impossible" to proceed. Another rescuer reports that the tunnel is blocked approximately 200 to 250 meters ahead.

Maharjan's role involves flying a drone equipped with thermal imaging into the tunnel to assess conditions beyond the reach of ground teams. Footage from the drone is being used to guide rescuers as they crawl through narrow, obstacle-filled passages. At one point, Maharjan notes that the entrance to the tunnel is no longer visible from their position, underscoring the complexity of the operation.

The rescue effort comes in the wake of catastrophic flooding that began last week near the Rasuwagadhi border crossing, a route Maharjan knows well from years of travel for work. His familiarity with the terrain, combined with his technical skills, has made him a valuable asset to the rescue teams working under extremely hazardous conditions.