Trapped Nepal workers pulled alive from tunnel 9 days after deadly flooding, raising hope for more rescues

Two Workers Rescued From Flood‑Damaged Hydropower Tunnel in Nepal, Search Continues

Nine days after the devastating floods that struck Nepal on August 26, rescuers pulled a mechanical foreman and a mechanical supervisor alive from the Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel. The workers were brought to Kathmandu’s emergency facilities; one remains in critical condition.

The rescue operation began in the early hours of the Friday when Nepal Army teams first heard voices echoing inside the tunnel. Images released by the army showed a soldier carrying one of the men on his back while fellow troops assisted. Brigadier‑General Raja Ram Basnet, commander of the search teams, confirmed that the operation was still ongoing and that more survivors might be found inside the tunnel.

A survivor, speaking to the Associated Press, said that additional people were still alive within the tunnel. Amir Maharjan, the brother of one of the rescued men, expressed his gratitude, telling reporters, “I can’t explain what we are feeling at the moment. We are just grateful to God.”

The two rescued workers are identified as a foreman and a supervisor at the Trishuli 3A plant. They were flown to a Kathmandu hospital for treatment, with authorities noting that one of them is in critical condition. A statement from the prime minister’s office was cited by the AP in reporting the situation.

Officials estimate that about 115 workers remain trapped in the Trishuli 3A tunnel alone. According to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal, roughly 900 workers are missing from 12 hydropower facilities across the country, with about 500 of them believed to be stuck in underground tunnels.

In total, the August 26 floods have claimed at least 1,287 lives and left more than 5,000 people unaccounted for. Scientists attribute the catastrophic mudflows to a likely glacier collapse. The Nepalese disaster agency chief has estimated that the floods have inflicted approximately 387.5 billion Nepalese rupees—around $2.5 billion—worth of damage to infrastructure and property.

Communication Minister Bikram Timilsina expressed his appreciation for the rescue crews on his Facebook page, stating, “We are waiting for the rescue of more and more people.” He added, “A heartfelt thank you to everyone who worked tirelessly day and night to rescue two people alive!”

China, which was affected on its side of the Tibet–nepal border, reported 21 deaths and 541 missing persons. The international response to the disaster continues as search and rescue teams scour the tunnels and surrounding areas for survivors.