Expert Explains | How floods triggered Nepal’s demand for compensation

Kabir Maharjan and Sanjay Sah survived a harrowing nine-day ordeal in a hydropower tunnel after a devastating flood in Nepal. The flood occurred on August 26th when a glacier collapsed above the Trishuli valley, unleashing a wall of mud and water that killed over 1,300 people and left thousands missing. The two men were trapped in an air-filled chamber, surviving for nine days before being rescued.

Maharjan had called his wife earlier that day to let her know he would be inside the tunnel, even though there would be no network inside. Around 60 minutes later, a glacier collapsed upstream, causing a landslide that formed a wall of water and submerged the hydropower projects. Rescuers gave the final order to evacuate at 9:15 am, but by then, the two men had taken shelter near the tunnel's exit.

They remained in the air pocket for nine days, with serious digging not starting until three days after the disaster. The rescuers finally heard noises on the 10th day and saw a hand, finally pulling Maharjan and Sah out of the tunnel. Both men were severely injured and required hospitalization. Maharjan went into surgery for a deep, infected wound on his leg, while Sah had to be carried out on a rescuer's back.

Both men were overjoyed to be alive, with Maharjan questioning where he was upon entering the hospital, having no recognition of his wife.