KATHMANDU, September 4: Rescue teams in Nepal pulled two hydropower workers alive from an underground tunnel on Friday, nine days after catastrophic floods devastated the Trishuli River valley and left thousands dead or missing.
The survivors, identified as Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan, were rescued from the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station, one of several power projects badly damaged in the disaster.
Found Around 170 Metres Inside Tunnel
The two workers were found approximately 170 metres inside the tunnel, where they had remained trapped since the August 26 disaster.
Nepal Army personnel and specialised rescue teams had spent days clearing thick mud, rocks and debris blocking access to the underground facility.
Sah was brought out first, followed by Maharjan as the operation continued deeper into the tunnel.
Survivors Taken to Kathmandu Hospital
Both men were provided immediate medical assistance before being transferred to a Nepal Army hospital in Kathmandu.
They are receiving intensive medical care following nine days underground.
Their rescue has provided a rare moment of hope for families still waiting for information about hundreds of workers believed to be trapped inside damaged hydropower installations.
Sah Stayed Behind to Help Others
Sanjay Sah worked as a mechanical foreman at the hydropower facility.
According to his account after the rescue, he chose to remain behind when the disaster struck to help other workers escape before he himself became trapped as floodwater and debris overwhelmed the facility.
Rescuers Heard Voices Inside Tunnel
Hope for survivors increased after rescue personnel reported hearing voices from deep inside the tunnel.
Authorities believe additional workers could still be alive in sections containing air pockets, prompting rescue teams to intensify efforts to reach deeper areas.
Around 30 to 40 people were believed to have been inside sections of the Upper Trishuli 3A tunnel, according to local officials cited in reports.
Hundreds of Hydropower Workers Still Missing
Hydropower projects have become a major focus of Nepal’s search-and-rescue mission.
Around 900 workers remain missing from multiple hydropower projects, with roughly 500 feared trapped inside underground tunnels.
International experts are also supporting Nepalese teams as rescuers use excavators, controlled blasting, tunnel maps and specialised equipment to reach possible survivors.
Disaster Has Killed More Than 1,300
The catastrophic flooding began on August 26 after a glacier collapse triggered a massive surge of ice, rocks, mud and water through the Himalayan river valley.
The disaster has now killed more than 1,300 people, while more than 5,600 remain missing, according to the latest Reuters update.
Thousands of homes and critical infrastructure have been destroyed, while Nepal has estimated economic losses from the disaster at approximately $2.56 billion.
The rescue of Sah and Maharjan nine days after the floods has renewed hopes that more people may still be found alive as search teams continue working through damaged tunnels.
source – Reuters
Supreme News Network
