An extraordinary rescue unfolded in Nepal this past Friday. Emergency crews successfully pulled two workers alive from a collapsed hydropower tunnel. This remarkable feat occurred nine days after catastrophic floods swept through the region.
Mechanical foreman Sanjay Shah, 30, and supervisor Kabir Maharjan, 45, were freed from the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station. Both men were working along the Trishuli River when the disaster struck. Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha expressed profound relief, stating that hope remains as long as rescue efforts continue.
Rescuers initially heard voices from deep inside the tunnel on Friday morning. Maharjan, reportedly unable to move his limbs, was carefully lifted from a hole. Meanwhile, Shah, his face covered in mud, was carried out on a worker’s back to a waiting tent. Army doctors promptly fitted him with an oxygen mask and checked his vital signs.
Both survivors were swiftly airlifted to a hospital in Kathmandu for urgent medical attention. Family members reacted with immense gratitude and relief upon hearing the news. This particular Nepal tunnel rescue marks the first successful recovery from the hydropower projects along the Trishuli River.
However, the search continues for many more. Authorities believe as many as 900 workers remain missing across several project sites. Approximately 500 are thought to be trapped within similar tunnels. Specifically at the Trishuli 3A project, 557 workers are unaccounted for, with about 115 believed to be in the main tunnel.
Nepal’s communication minister, Bikram Timilsina, conveyed optimism for further survivors. He underlined that officials are dedicated to finding more people. Expert teams are coordinating rescue efforts using a WhatsApp group, alongside helicopters and heavy machinery.
The floods on August 26 were devastating, caused by a glacial collapse upstream on the Trishuli River. This unleashed a destructive wall of ice, rock, and mud. The natural disaster has killed at least 1,259 people in Nepal alone, with over 5,000 still missing. Additionally, China has reported 21 deaths and 541 missing on its side of the border.
The economic impact is also severe. Nepal’s disaster authority estimates property and infrastructure damage at 387.5 billion Nepalese rupees ($2.56 billion). Initial recovery efforts, including rebuilding roads and establishing temporary shelters, are projected to cost $52.6 million. Moreover, approximately 20,000 houses will require rebuilding, as 7,500 were completely destroyed.
