Nepal Rescuers Find Two Workers Alive After Nine Days Trapped in Flooded Tunnel

Two workers have been found alive in a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-3A hydropower station in Nepal, nine days after a catastrophic flood and landslide blocked the entrance with debris. Rescuers, who had almost given up hope, heard voices from within the tunnel while clearing the blockage. They worked to remove large boulders and pump out water to reach the trapped men, identified as 30-year-old Sanjay Sah and 45-year-old Kabir Maharjan. The workers were located approximately 170 meters from the tunnel entrance.

Both men are now hospitalized in Kathmandu. Maharjan is experiencing significant mobility issues in his limbs, while Sah sustained less severe injuries. Their overall condition is reported as stable. The exact circumstances of their survival are being investigated, but it is believed they were in a section of the tunnel with a preserved air pocket.

The disaster occurred on August 26 when a high-altitude glacier collapsed into the Trishuli River valley, temporarily damming it. The subsequent breach of this natural dam unleashed a massive torrent of water, mud, ice, and rocks, destroying villages, roads, and bridges. The flood claimed over 1,200 lives, with thousands more missing, including two Israelis. Several hydropower stations were severely affected, trapping an estimated 900 workers, with around 500 potentially inside tunnels.

Geologist Jakob Steiner noted that the tunnels are large enough for trucks and that rescuers have been working to supply oxygen to some corridors where people might be trapped. He emphasized that the situation is a race against time due to the need for food and water. Rescue operations in Nepal are ongoing.