Nepal Army Battles Unstable Cliffs As Massive Debris Slides Into Flooded River

Nepal Army personnel are working on steep, unstable cliffs as efforts continue to restore access to hydropower sites hit by the August 26 Bhotekoshi flash flood.

The footage shows a soldier in camouflage and a yellow helmet working below a steep pale rock face, while another person in a helmet and harness is suspended on a rope above a waterfall. Personnel brace themselves on the wet rock while handling a yellow hose or line.

Elsewhere, a small green excavator works from a narrow ledge beneath a rocky overhang beside a muddy river. Personnel in helmets stand nearby as the machine digs into the slope.

The excavator then triggers a large brown cloud of dust and debris that pours down toward the river, with the camera following the resulting slide.

The August 26 flash flood destroyed roads leading to hydropower sites including Chilime, Rasuwagadhi, Trishuli-3A/3B, Upper Trishuli-1 and Langtang.

Army operations have involved helicopter lifts, hand and tunnel searches, blasting and small excavators positioned on improvised ledges because large machines often cannot land.

Access tracks toward Chilime and other portals were being cut in early September, while unstable cliffs required blasting and excavator work.