Kathmandu. More than 800 people working in various hydropower projects and structures are still out of contact due to floods in the Bhotekoshi area. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha said that 47 employees of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) are out of contact.

In a meeting of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, he informed that 1,433 people were working at the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project before the floods. He said that 955 of them were rescued safely and some came in contact on their own, but 439 are still out of contact.

On the 12th day of the floods, a Chinese national was rescued from the project. So far, 39 bodies have been recovered from the project.

Similarly, 39 people are missing from Upper Trishuli-3 ‘A’. Employees Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan were rescued safely on the 10th day of the floods during continuous search and rescue. One body has been recovered from the project.

Of them, 178 people are out of contact in Upper Trishuli-3 ‘B’, 93 in Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, seven in Mailung Khola Hydropower Project and three in Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project.

Similarly, 39 people are missing from the Langtang Khola Hydropower Project. 19 people have been rescued safely from the project while 2 bodies have been recovered. The bodies of five employees have been found during the search and rescue operation at the power house of Chilime Hydropower Center, while one is still missing.

Similarly, two employees from Middle Trishuli Ganga Hydropower Project, 3 from Trishuli Hydropower Project, and employees of Devighat Hydropower Center, Trishuli-3 ‘B’ Hub, Rasuwa Distribution Center and Chilime-Trishuli Transmission Line were out of contact.