Two surviving workers were pulled alive from a debris-choked hydropower tunnel in Nepal on Friday, September 4, 2026, nine days after devastating floods and glacial collapse struck the region. According to the Nepal Army and Reuters, mechanical foreman Sanjay Sah and mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharjan were extracted from the Upper Trishuli-3A Hydropower Project site along the Trishuli River in Rasuwa, marking the first confirmed rescues from the facility since the disaster hit on August 26, 2026.
Rescue Operations at Upper Trishuli-3A Hydropower Project
The rescue unfolded after an immense wall of ice, rock, and mud swept down the Trishuli River valley following a glacial collapse upstream. According to officials cited by Reuters, an estimated 900 people were believed trapped inside tunnels across six hydropower projects along the river. Arnold Dix, chair of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association who advised authorities on penetrating the blocked structures, described the effort as navigating “layers and layers of miracles” after finding the original hillside tunnel entrances buried deep underground.
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Rescue teams utilized engineering techniques, legacy topographic maps, satellite imagery, and helicopter footage to locate the buried portals. According to Dix’s account to the BBC, crews had to blast through boulders larger than cars using explosives—a high-risk method chosen to clear the heavy stone and mudpack without harming the trapped survivors.
Condition of the Rescued Workers
Footage released by Nepalese authorities showed Kabir Maharjan being pulled upward through an earth opening to cheers before being placed on a stretcher. According to a staff member from the Energy Minister’s office speaking to Reuters, Maharjan was unable to move his arms and legs upon extraction. Meanwhile, fellow survivor Sanjay Sah was carried out covered in mud and examined in an emergency military tent. According to a local military official, Sah’s vital signs were normal and his injuries were non-critical. Both men were subsequently airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Kathmandu.
Coordination during the complex operation relied heavily on a dedicated WhatsApp group of tunneling experts that guided field teams alongside heavy machinery and aircraft, according to disaster response officials. Communication Minister Bikram Timilsina stated on Facebook, as reported by Kompas.com, that authorities remained optimistic about finding additional survivors within the subterranean network.
Casualties and Scale of the Himalayan Disaster
The human toll of the late August disaster spans national borders. According to local authorities cited by Reuters, at least 1,252 people died across Nepal as homes, roads, and schools were battered by floods and landslides, while more than 4,200 individuals remained missing and thousands more were displaced. In neighboring Tibet, Chinese authorities documented at least 21 fatalities and 541 missing persons.
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Did you know?
Specialized rescue teams utilized a WhatsApp coordination group to guide emergency personnel through remote and unstable tunnel networks during the Trishuli River operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
When were the workers rescued from the Nepal tunnel?
Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan were rescued on Friday, September 4, 2026, exactly nine days after the floods struck on August 26, 2026.
How long were the workers trapped inside the Trishuli hydropower tunnel?
The two mechanical workers were trapped for nine days inside a tunnel connected to the Upper Trishuli-3A Hydropower Project.
Which officials confirmed the rescue details?
The rescues were confirmed by Reuters, the Nepal Army, Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha’s office, and Communications Minister Bikram Timilsina.
What caused the devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet?
According to officials, the disaster was triggered by a glacial collapse in the upper reaches of the Trishuli River on August 26, 2026, sending massive avalanches of ice, rock, and mud into local river valleys.
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