Rescue teams in Nepal have pulled two hydropower workers alive from a tunnel, nine days after catastrophic flooding and landslides swept through the Trishuli River corridor, offering renewed hope for hundreds of people still believed to be trapped underground.
The two men, identified as 30-year-old mechanical foreman Sanjay Sah and 45-year-old mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharjan, were rescued from the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project in Rasuwa district. Rescuers reached them about 170 metres inside the tunnel after days of clearing mud, rocks and other debris.
The disaster struck on August 26, after a glacier-related collapse and massive surge of water, rock and mud devastated communities along the Nepal-China border. More than 1,200 people have been killed, while thousands remain missing, according to reports. The flooding also severely damaged hydropower infrastructure and trapped workers inside several underground facilities.
Officials said the two survivors were receiving medical treatment after being brought to safety. Reports differed on their precise medical condition, with authorities indicating that Sah’s injuries were not critical while Maharjan required more serious medical attention.
The rescue has intensified hopes that others may still be alive. Authorities estimate that around 900 workers are missing from 12 hydropower projects, with hundreds believed to be trapped inside tunnels. Rescue crews are continuing to remove debris and search underground structures while supplying air and working to establish contact with those potentially still alive.
The successful operation has been described as a major breakthrough in one of Nepal’s most devastating recent disasters. International and local rescue specialists are assisting Nepalese authorities as the search continues for survivors and the recovery of victims.
