Two Workers Rescued Alive After Nine Days Trapped in Nepal Tunnel

Two Nepalese hydropower workers were rescued alive on Friday after being trapped for nine days in a debris-filled tunnel following a devastating flood. Sanjay Sah, a 30-year-old mechanical foreman, and Kabir Maharjan, a 45-year-old mechanical supervisor, were pulled from the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station in Rasuwa district.

The workers became cut off when water and debris overwhelmed the tunnel entrance on August 26. Rescue teams heard voices from inside the tunnel on Friday morning before reaching the men. Both men were flown to Kathmandu for medical treatment, where Sah was reported to be stable and Maharjan in more serious condition. Maharjan reportedly recognized and spoke with his wife after the rescue.

Rescuers continued searching for hundreds of workers believed trapped or missing at other hydropower projects damaged by the disaster. Sah had reportedly remained behind to help colleagues escape during the flood, reciting mantras while underground. The rescue operation has highlighted the challenges faced in locating survivors in flooded tunnels and the ongoing crisis for Nepal's hydropower industry.