Two workers were rescued alive from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal nine days after floods triggered by a glacier collapse killed at least 1,287 people and left over 5,000 missing, according to multiple reports.
Rescuers in Nepal pulled two workers from a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project on Friday, raising hopes of reaching dozens more believed to be trapped after floods devastated the Himalayan region, officials said. The survivors, identified as mechanical foreman Sanjay Sah, 30, and mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharjan, 45, were flown to a Kathmandu hospital for treatment, according to the Nepal Army and the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Authority.
Rescue Operation and Immediate Aftermath
Officials confirmed that voices from inside the tunnel were heard on Friday, allowing rescuers to locate the two men. We are very confident that they must be alive after one week because … they have food and water over there in the building,
Amhsu Kiran Shahi, a board member of the Nepal Electricity Authority, told Reuters.
Amir Maharjan, the brother of one of the rescued workers, expressed gratitude to “god” for the recovery, while Nepal’s Communication Minister Bikram Timilsina tweeted, We are waiting for the rescue of more and more people.
The Nepal Army released images of the operation, including one showing the first rescuer being carried from the site, with the caption: When hope is alive, even the impossible becomes possible.
Despite the breakthrough, the broader disaster remains dire. At least 1,287 people were killed in the Aug. 26 floods, which were caused by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, according to Nepal’s disaster management agency. Over 5,000 remain missing, with about 900 workers still unaccounted for at hydropower projects. The death toll in Tibet, China, reached 21, with 541 missing, according to Chinese officials.
Broader Impact of the Flooding
The floods caused at least 387.5 billion Nepalese rupees ($2.5 billion) in damage, according to Nepal’s disaster agency, with property, housing, and infrastructure heavily impacted.
Rescue efforts face ongoing challenges, including heavy rainfall and damaged infrastructure. Chinese authorities reopened the only road to the Gyirong border crossing on Wednesday, allowing heavy machinery to reach the disaster zone. Specialized teams are assisting in tunnel operations, with officials emphasizing the need for oxygen and water for those trapped.
The hope of finding survivors is decreasing,
Phanindra Paudel, a senior official at Nepal’s National Emergency Operation Center, said. We pray and are hopeful. Hope is hope!
Despite the grim outlook, the rescue of the two workers has provided a rare glimmer of optimism in a disaster that has left thousands grieving.
Ongoing Challenges and International Coordination
International aid is being coordinated to address the crisis, with China pledging support for search efforts and the U.S. sending experts to assist.
As rescue teams continue their work, the focus remains on the tunnels where dozens of workers are still believed to be trapped. There are at least 557 workers still missing in the area, with about 115 believed to be trapped in the main tunnel,
according to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal. The search for survivors is expected to continue for weeks, with officials urging patience and resilience.
As the world watches, the resilience of Nepal’s people and the international community’s response will define the next phase of recovery.
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