The floods have left about 900 workers missing from 12 hydropower projects, and local authorities estimate that roughly 500 of those workers are still trapped inside tunnels.

Australian geologist Arnold Dix supported the rescue from his home in Monbulk, Victoria. He examined satellite images and engineering data, then shared his calculations and location suggestions through a WhatsApp group that linked him with rescuers on the ground.

The overall operation was led by the Nepalese army and police, while technical assistance also came from experts in India, South Korea and China. Their combined effort helped the rescue teams locate the tunnel entrance and drill toward the trapped workers.

The success of this rescue shows how modern tools such as satellite imagery and online collaboration platforms, together with cross‑border expertise, can turn a seemingly hopeless underground disaster into a viable rescue mission.