Miracle rescue: Two workers pulled out alive from Trishuli 3A tunnel in Nepal

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Kathmandu, Sep 4 (IANS) Rescuers on Friday pulled out two men alive from a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project, which was affected by last week’s deadly floods, raising hopes that others could still be trapped inside.

Nine days after a deadly flash flood tore through the Trishuli River corridor, sweeping away everything in its path and causing extensive damage to dozens of hydropower projects, two men employed at the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project were rescued alive.

The Secretariat of the Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation confirmed that Kabir Maharjan, 45, a supervisor for the Hydropower Automation Project of Upper Trishuli 3A from Kathmandu, and Sanjaya Sah, 30, a foreman from Saptari district, were rescued alive.

“They are being taken to hospital in Kathmandu after being airlifted,” the secretariat said.

Sah was rescued earlier on Friday, followed by Maharjan, according to the latest information received from the rescue operation.

The rescue followed an earlier breakthrough in which rescuers heard voices from inside the tunnel and established communication with people believed to be trapped there.

The Nepal Army and Armed Police Force intensified efforts to reach them after the voices were heard.

According to local media reports, the rescue team called out to the trapped workers, asking them not to panic, and sustained efforts eventually paid off.

The flash flood on August 26 swept through the Trishuli River valley, killing at least 1,252 people, while 5,053 people remained missing as of Thursday evening, according to the latest situation report released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).

The floods also damaged several hydropower projects, including the 60 MW Upper Trishuli 3A Project, as well as key road links. Search teams have since been working in difficult conditions to locate people who may have been trapped inside tunnels and other structures.

According to the minister’s secretariat, a joint team of the Nepal Army and Armed Police Force, including Chinese experts, has been deployed at the site. The team has been using five excavators, compressors and breakers, while tunnel drilling and holing work has been intensified to clear access to the tunnel.

A large rock was located inside the tunnel, and blasting work was carried out to remove the obstruction and facilitate further search and rescue efforts.

The Trishuli 3A hydropower plant was affected by the devastating floods in the Trishuli and Bhotekoshi river systems, which caused extensive damage to infrastructure in the region.

The Independent Power Producers’ Association, an association of private-sector power developers, said on Thursday evening that as many as 945 people working in 11 hydropower projects affected by the floods remained out of contact.

–IANS

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Attempt to play with human lives: Zelensky slams Putin’s Easter truce offer

Kyiv, April 20 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a surprise ceasefire, declaring a 30-hour Easter truce in Ukraine that is set to last until midnight on Sunday. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed skepticism, stating that this is just another attempt by Russia to play with human lives.

The proposal, which marks one of the most significant pauses in the three-year war, was described by Putin as a humanitarian gesture.

Zelensky responded with deep scepticism, accusing the Kremlin of using religious holidays to manipulate public perception.

“As for yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives — at this moment, air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote on X.

“Shahed (attack) drones in our skies reveal Putin’s true attitude toward Easter and toward human life.”

Putin, during a televised briefing with Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, announced that Russian forces would halt combat operations from 6:00 PM Saturday until midnight Sunday. While calling for Ukraine to reciprocate, Putin also instructed troops to remain alert for potential violations or provocations.

The announcement coincided with blaring air raid sirens across major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, which only subsided around the time the ceasefire was to take effect. Ukrainian authorities have not confirmed whether they would adhere to the truce.

Zelensky dismissed the ceasefire as another ploy by Moscow.

“Putin might do it to give some hope or to show his humanity. But either way, of course, we don’t trust Russia,” said Dmitry, a 40-year-old Ukrainian soldier. “These 30 hours will lead to nothing… The killings will continue.”

Despite the looming scepticism, Russia and Ukraine conducted a major prisoner swap on the same day, with both sides confirming the return of 246 captured soldiers each. Zelensky noted that the total number of Ukrainian POWs released has now reached 4,552.

Putin framed the truce as a test of Kyiv’s willingness to engage in peace talks, stating, “This will show how sincere the Kyiv regime’s desire and ability are to observe agreements.”

Past efforts to arrange ceasefires around major holidays, such as Easter in 2022 and Orthodox Christmas in 2023, collapsed due to mutual distrust and ongoing hostilities.

A month ago, Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by former US President Donald Trump, but Moscow declined.

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Twenty-two Maoists surrender in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, April 8 (IANS) At least twenty-two Maoists surrendered on Tuesday in the Bijapur area of Chhattisgarh.

An official said that all these Maoists were carrying a combined reward of rupees 26 lakh, adding that two Maoists were carrying a reward of eight lakh each.

“Two other Maoists were carrying a reward of five lakhs each, also surrendered,” he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his recent visit to Chhattisgarh, had appealed to the Maoists to lay down their arms and come back home to join the mainstream of society.

He promised them that they would have a better life as the Central and state governments have both lucrative rehabilitation schemes for them, besides full opportunities to join the ongoing development process.

In Dantewada district, Chhattisgarh, 26 Maoists, including three who carried rewards on their heads, had surrendered as a result of the ‘Loan Varratu’ (Come Back Home) campaign and the state government’s rehabilitation policy recently.

This significant development occurred on April 7 at the District Reserve Guard office in Dantewada, where the surrender was facilitated by the police and CRPF.

Among the surrendered individuals, two had rewards of Rs 8 lakh each, and two others carried Rs 5 lakh rewards. These individuals were active members of various Maoist organisations and had grown disillusioned with the violence, exploitation, and hardship associated with the Maoist movement, prompting them to embrace the mainstream.

The district police force and CRPF have been diligently working on reintegrating Maoists into society through consistent outreach, dialogue, and awareness campaigns about the government’s rehabilitation policy.

Under this initiative, 953 Maoists, including 224 with rewards, have surrendered to date. The surrendered individuals represent a range of roles within Maoist structures, including leaders and members of the Jan militia and various other groups and committees.

As a part of the rehabilitation program, these individuals will get RRs R receive an incentive of Rs 50,000 to support their transition into society.

–IANS

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Kuruvai paddy piles up in Delta as procurement lags, farmers left in distress

Chennai, Oct 20 (IANS) With the Kuruvai harvest almost complete, farmers across the Cauvery Delta are struggling to get their paddy procured as the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) has failed to ensure proper planning and coordination.

Poor transportation, shortage of gunny bags, and the absence of pre-season consultations with farmers have left thousands of tonnes of paddy heaped outside Direct Procurement Centres (DPCs), exposed to the monsoon rains.

This year’s Kuruvai cultivation has been one of the most extensive in recent times, with 6.31 lakh acres under cultivation — a sharp rise from the normal 3.87 lakh acres.

While only 30 per cent of the crop remains to be harvested, procurement has lagged far behind expectations. Of the 70 per cent already harvested, just 40 per cent has been lifted by the TNCSC, leaving massive stockpiles at various centres.

Each DPC is estimated to be holding between 10,000 and 20,000 chippoms (40-kg bags) of paddy, leading to congestion and logistical challenges. The delays have been attributed to administrative instability within TNCSC, which saw the transfer of five Managing Directors between January and October this year.

The leadership vacuum affected crucial decision-making during the peak procurement phase, especially in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, and Nagapattinam districts — the heart of the Delta region.

The gunny bag shortage has added to farmers’ distress. Despite official claims that stocks were being replenished through fresh procurement from West Bengal, the situation on the ground remains grim, with most DPCs reporting inadequate supply.

The shortage has slowed down packing and dispatch operations, further delaying transportation to warehouses. In several areas, paddy is being stored in open spaces as temporary DPCs have not been fully activated.

With limited lorries available for movement from DPCs to godowns, procurement staff have managed to lift only between 500 and 600 bags a day per centre, against the target of 1,000 bags.

Continuous rainfall across the Delta has compounded the crisis, with reports of paddy stocks sprouting at several centres due to prolonged exposure to moisture.

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