‘Kept chanting Hare Krishna’: Nepal man rescued alive after being trapped in tunnel for 9 days

Two Nepalese workers have been rescued alive after being trapped for nine days inside a hydropower tunnel in the north of the country, as search efforts continue following devastating floods and landslides near the border with Tibet. The two men, identified as Sanjay Shah and Kabir Maharjan, were rescued from the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project in Rasuwa district today, September 4.

They were airlifted to a hospital in Kathmandu on stretchers. According to Nepalese lawmaker Shri Ram Neupane, the second worker was rescued shortly after army spokesperson Brigadier General Raja Ram Basnet confirmed the safe extraction of the first man. Nepalese officials stated that 557 workers are still unaccounted for from the Trishuli 3A project, with 115 workers believed to be trapped within the main tunnel.

Rescue teams suspect there may still be survivors inside. Earlier estimates indicated that around 900 workers were missing from 12 hydropower projects across Nepal, with about 500 likely trapped in various tunnels. The death toll from the floods and landslides has climbed to at least 1,259, while more than 5,000 people remain missing.

Chinese authorities reported 21 deaths and 541 missing near Tibet. The disaster has caused extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and property. Preliminary damage assessments estimate losses at around US$2.56 billion, or 84 billion baht, with an initial recovery period requiring approximately US$52.6 million. Around 7,500 homes have been destroyed, and officials predict that 20,000 new residences will need to be constructed in safer locations.