Professor Arnold Dix Describes Bhotekoshi Disaster as an Exceptionally Rare Global Event

Professor Arnold Dix has described the flood and the damage it caused to the hydropower tunnels in Bhotekoshi as an exceptionally rare disaster on a global scale. He noted that the impact spanned approximately 72 kilometers, with narrow gorges, damaged roads, and bridges presenting significant challenges to rescue operations. Dix advised against hastily concluding the fate of those unaccounted for and emphasized the importance of continuing search and rescue efforts, while urging not to attribute the disaster to design flaws.

Kathmandu, 24 Bhadra – International tunnel and underground structure expert Professor Arnold Dix characterized the flood in the Bhotekoshi region and the ensuing damage to hydropower project tunnels and related infrastructure as an extraordinarily uncommon disaster worldwide. Providing technical support for the search and rescue of people trapped and out of contact within the hydropower tunnels after the flood, Dix met with Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Viraj Bhakta Shrestha on Wednesday to review the latest rescue status. Speaking to the media afterward, he highlighted the exceptional nature of the disaster and the challenges faced during the rescue operations in the Bhotekoshi area. “In my experience, disasters of this type are very rare globally. This may well be the first such incident,” he stated.