'Second life': Nepal tunnel survivor recalls ordeal

Saptari, Nepal witnessed a harrowing survival story of Sanjay Sah, a hydropower worker, who was trapped in a flooded tunnel for 10 days. Sah recounted his ordeal to AFP, expressing disbelief at how long he had been trapped. The disaster, triggered by a glacial collapse on the China-Nepal border, resulted in at least 1,429 deaths and over 5,640 missing, primarily in Nepal.

Despite warnings of impending floodwaters, Sah and his colleagues were unable to evacuate in time. Stranded in darkness, Sah drew strength from his Hindu faith, chanting mantras and maintaining hope. With limited clean water, he survived on the muddy water available. A nearby trapped worker, Kabir Maharjan, provided companionship through their shared ordeal.

Eventually, rescue teams managed to bring Sah and Maharjan to safety. While Sah expressed gratitude for surviving, he also felt saddened for his friends who perished in the flood. He urged authorities not to abandon the ongoing search and rescue efforts, hoping for more survivors.