KATHMANDU, AUGUST 29 Up to 400 workers are feared trapped inside tunnels at Hakku-216 in Rasuwa, with rescue efforts hampered by heavy mud and water, according to the Nepal Mountaineering Association. The NMA said its rescue team, led by rescue in-charge Bikram Karki, was deployed to Tunnel Nos 1, 2 and 3 to assess the situation and attempt to reach the trapped workers. However, the team could not proceed because conditions inside the tunnels were considered extremely dangerous and technically difficult. According to information received from the ground, an estimated 300 to 400 workers may be trapped inside the tunnels, while some have reportedly remained unreachable for approximately three days. The NMA has called for an immediate, specialised rescue operation involving teams equipped to work in flooded, mud-filled and confined tunnel environments. It said high-capacity water pumps, heavy equipment to remove mud and debris, advanced search and detection equipment, technical rope and confined-space rescue gear, breathing apparatus and life-support systems are urgently required. The association has also sought medical and emergency response teams as well as experienced mountaineering, canyoning, caving and technical rescue specialists. NMA General Secretary Rajendra Bahadur Lama said the association's rescue team remained ready to provide technical support in coordination with government authorities, security agencies and national and international specialist rescue teams. The NMA stressed that time was critical and called for all available resources to be mobilised immediately to reach the workers and save lives.