Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuk said efforts are underway to rescue the trapped workers at the Mangdechu project site but it’s likely to take time because the debris are precarious and likely to slide further. About 50-60 truckloads of debris are suspected to have been washed down into the dam pit.

Lyonpo said about 15 workers were doing welding works when the debris above the excavated area washed down into the dam pit suddenly. Ten workers were beyond the radius of the slide and managed to escape while the other five, who were working near the dam gate got trapped. The slides have caused no structural damage.