Rasuwa flood unlike any other disaster: Prof. Dix

Kathmandu / Sept. 10: International tunnel and underground infrastructure expert Professor Arnold Dix has described the devastating Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa as an exceptionally rare disaster, saying the scale and nature of the destruction and the challenges faced during the rescue operation are unlike anything he has previously encountered.

Dix, who has been providing technical assistance in the search and rescue of people trapped or missing inside hydropower project tunnels affected by the flood, briefed Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha on the latest rescue efforts on Wednesday.

Speaking to journalists afterward, he said the nature of the disaster and the challenges encountered during the rescue operation were extraordinary.

“In my experience, disasters of this kind are very rare in the world. This may possibly be the first such incident,” he said.

According to Dix, the floods affected an area stretching approximately 72 kilometres, and in some locations there were no immediate options other than aerial rescue.

He said rescue teams were working at great risk because of extremely narrow gorges, damaged roads and bridges, and terrain where even helicopters could not land.

“We were in a situation where we had to conduct rescue operations from places where even helicopters could not land. The gorges are extremely narrow. It is very difficult terrain even for rescuers,” he said.

Dix said this was not the time to blame anyone and praised the coordination demonstrated by the Nepali side in the rescue efforts. He said the government of Nepal and the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation had played a highly coordinated role in the rescue operation.

“There is no situation or time now to blame anyone. I see no fault on the part of Nepal for this disaster,” he said.

He said the scale of destruction visible on the surface should not lead to the conclusion that there was no longer any possibility of finding people alive inside underground structures.

As tunnels and underground structures of the hydropower projects remain intact in some areas, he stressed that the search for possible survivors should continue.

Dix said he had been studying the engineering designs and tunnel structures of Nepal’s hydropower projects and had begun identifying possible rescue routes by examining available designs, maps and other technical information soon after the disaster.

“I have studied the engineering designs of the hydropower projects and tunnels. After the disaster, the first thing I did was examine the available designs and technical data,” he said.

Referring to the solidarity being shown by the international community toward the rescue efforts in Nepal, Dix said he wanted to convey a message to the Nepali people affected by the disaster that they were not alone.

He added, “The world understands that you have done nothing wrong. This is a natural disaster. My message to the Nepali people is that you are not alone. We are here to help you.”

Dix said the damage caused by the floods to hydropower infrastructure should not be viewed merely as physical damage.

He said hydropower is closely linked to Nepal’s national development, energy security and sovereignty and therefore the destruction should be viewed from a broader perspective.

“This is not only a human tragedy; it is also a matter of intellectual and national loss. Hydropower is very important to Nepal’s national identity, sovereignty and independence,” he said.

He stressed the need to incorporate rescue and safety systems into hydropower projects from the design stage itself in order to minimise damage from similarly extraordinary disasters in the future.

Dix also made it clear that it would be inappropriate to blame the design of hydropower projects based solely on the current disaster.

“If someone wants to say that the design of these hydropower projects was wrong, that would be a completely wrong conclusion. We had never seen such an event in the history of the world.

Based on what we knew until two weeks ago, the designs there were appropriate. Now the circumstances have changed,” he said.

According to Dix, the current rescue campaign is very different from a conventional tunnel rescue operation.

He said transporting the heavy equipment and skilled personnel required for the rescue to the affected sites itself posed a major challenge.

Dix said everyone involved in the rescue operation was working day and night despite being under tremendous stress.

“Thousands of people may be ready to work, but they cannot be taken to the site. Even if they get there, there is nowhere for them to stay. There are also problems transporting equipment. So this is not a normal rescue operation,” he said.

Despite the difficult terrain, continuing risks and limited access, Dix said the efforts being made by Nepali and international teams were significant and stressed that the search for possible survivors should continue until every possibility had been exhausted.