'Second life': Nepal tunnel survivor recalls ordeal

Nepali hydropower worker Sanjay Sah endured an unimaginable ordeal when he was trapped in a flooded tunnel for ten days following devastating flash floods. Completely isolated, Sah faced darkness, muddy water and uncertainty as he desperately hoped for rescue. Upon his miraculous rescue on September 4, Sah was overwhelmed by the passage of time - he asked, "How many days has it been?" as he had no sense of how long he'd been trapped.

Sah, 30, recounted his harrowing experience to AFP, describing the sudden onset of the flood with tsunami-like waves. Despite warnings, the workers were caught off-guard, and within minutes, the tunnel was inundated. Sah's deep faith in Hinduism sustained him during his ordeal - he chanted prayers and found solace in the divine energy he believed granted him strength to endure.

Stranded and alone, Sah's survival was a rare ray of hope after a disaster that claimed over 1,400 lives. His mother welcomed him home, and the community celebrated his survival, but Sah remains haunted by the loss of his colleagues. He urges authorities to continue the search and rescue efforts, hoping that some survivors may still be found.