Two workers have been rescued alive from a flooded hydropower tunnel in Nepal, nine days after devastating flash floods swept through the Himalayan region, destroying infrastructure and leaving thousands of people missing.
The men were pulled from a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project in Rasuwa district on Friday, in a dramatic rescue that has renewed hopes that others trapped underground may also still be alive. The survivors were identified as Sanjay Sah, 30, a mechanical foreman, and Kabir Maharjan, 45, a mechanical supervisor.
The disaster struck on August 26, when a powerful surge of water, mud, ice and rock swept through the Trishuli River valley. The flooding devastated communities, damaged hydropower facilities and cut off roads and other vital infrastructure.
For days, rescue teams struggled to reach the underground sections of the hydropower project. Thick layers of mud and enormous boulders had blocked access, leaving rescuers with limited information about the condition of workers who were believed to be trapped inside.
The breakthrough came Friday morning when rescuers heard voices coming from deep inside the tunnel. The sound provided crucial confirmation that people had survived and allowed teams to concentrate their efforts on the area where the workers were trapped.
Sah later told officials that he had been working in the control room when the flood struck. He helped other workers escape but was unable to get out himself as the situation rapidly deteriorated. Maharjan had travelled to the project for scheduled maintenance work and was also caught underground when the floodwaters arrived.
After nine days in the tunnel, both men emerged covered in mud and visibly exhausted. Rescue personnel carried and supported them as they were brought to safety before they were flown to Kathmandu for medical treatment. Reports indicated that Sah was in stable condition, while Maharjan required more intensive medical care
Their rescue has become one of the most hopeful developments since the disaster began. Authorities believe other workers could still be alive in underground chambers and tunnels where pockets of air may have provided temporary refuge.
The search is continuing at the Trishuli 3A project and other hydropower facilities affected by the floods. Hundreds of workers remain unaccounted for, making the rescue operation a race against time.
For families still waiting for news of their loved ones, the survival of the two men has brought renewed hope. After nine days buried behind floodwater and debris, their rescue is a powerful reminder that even amid a catastrophe of enormous scale, the possibility of finding survivors can remain.