Nepal tunnel survivor recalls ordeal as a ‘second life’

In a harrowing ordeal, Nepali hydropower worker Sanjay Sah endured 10 days of darkness and despair trapped in a flooded tunnel, emerging as a resilient survivor. The catastrophic flood, unleashed by a glacial collapse on the China-Nepal border on August 26, claimed at least 1,429 lives and left over 5,640 missing. Sah, 30, recounted the nightmare that unfolded when he was engulfed by tsunami-like waves within minutes of receiving evacuation warnings.

Stranded with no clean water and no idea of rescue, Sah found solace in his deep Hindu faith, chanting prayers that infused him with divine energy. Another trapped colleague, Kabir Maharjan, provided a lifeline through mutual communication. The surviving duo was eventually rescued, their fortitude a beacon of hope amidst the disaster.

Sah's return was met with jubilation, and his mother wept with joy. Despite his miraculous survival, Sah acknowledged the sadness of losing friends in the flood, and he urged authorities to persevere in their rescue efforts, holding out hope that more lives could still be saved.