A resident tries to salvage belongings among damaged homes following flash floods along the banks of Trishuli River, in Dhading district, Nepal, on Sunday. Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA
Aug. 30 (UPI) -- The death toll from last week's flash floods in Nepal rose to nearly 800 Sunday as rescuers raced to gain access to tunnels where hydroelectric workers were feared trapped.
The Nepali Energy Ministry said rescuers brought in heavy machinery to create access to one of the tunnels. The government said more than 100 workers may be alive inside the tunnels, The Guardian reported.
"Drilling of four holes has been completed ... preparations are now underway to enter the tunnel directly ... and proceed with search and rescue operations," the ministry said.
Home Minister Sudan Gurung said Saturday that workers had breached the tunnel and had pumped air in through a hole. The prime minister's office said a team of 90 people -- members of the armed forces, police and trained rescuers with dogs -- were deployed to the site at Trishuli-3A hydropower site.
