Nepal Hydropower Tunnel Rescue: 2 Workers Saved After 9 Days, Search Continues

Two workers were rescued alive from Nepal’s Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel nine days after floods struck. Search operations continue for others.

wo workers were rescued alive from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal on Friday, nine days after devastating floods hit the region. The rescue has renewed hopes for others still trapped underground.

The workers were rescued from the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project. They were identified as mechanical foreman Sanjay Sah and mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharjan.

Both men were found deep inside the tunnel after rescue teams cleared mud and debris. Officials said they were brought out from a depth of about 170 metres.

Sah’s injuries were reported as non-critical. Maharjan was unable to move his hands and legs and was taken to Kathmandu for medical treatment.

Rescue teams hear voices inside tunnel

The breakthrough came after rescuers heard voices from inside the tunnel. Teams then established communication with people believed to be trapped underground.

The rescue operation has involved the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force and specialist teams. Heavy machinery has been used to remove thick mud, rocks and other debris blocking tunnel access.

Hundreds of workers still feared trapped

Authorities believe hundreds of workers could still be trapped at hydropower projects across the flood-hit region. Local officials have reported nearly 900 workers missing from 12 hydropower projects.

Around 500 workers are believed to be trapped inside tunnels, according to local authorities. Rescue teams are continuing searches at several hydropower facilities.

The latest Nepal hydropower tunnel rescue has increased hopes that air pockets and dry sections may have helped others survive. Rescue teams are therefore continuing underground searches despite difficult conditions.

Search operations continue at other projects

Teams are also searching tunnels at Langtang, Chilime and other hydropower projects. More than 9,300 Nepal Army personnel have been deployed across affected areas.

At the Langtang hydropower project, rescuers have also entered the tunnel while searching for missing workers. Operations remain complicated by damaged roads, debris and blocked entrances.

The floods struck the Trishuli and Bhotekoshi river corridors on August 26. The disaster followed a major surge of water, mud and debris in the Himalayan region. Reports have linked the flooding to a glacier collapse, though investigations into the disaster continue.

Nepal’s disaster management authorities have reported more than 1,250 deaths and thousands of people still unaccounted for. The disaster has also severely damaged hydropower facilities, roads and bridges.

For families waiting for missing workers, the rescue of Sah and Maharjan has brought fresh hope. Search teams are continuing efforts to reach other tunnels and underground facilities.

Rescue Effort Faces Difficult Conditions

Rescue teams have been working through unstable conditions inside the damaged hydropower tunnels. Mud, rocks and flood debris have made it difficult reach deeper sections.

Heavy equipment is being used to clear blocked passages. Rescue workers are also checking areas trapped workers could have found shelter from the floodwaters.

The survival of the two workers .

Families Await Updates

Families of missing hydropower workers have been waiting for information since the floods struck. Many have gathered near rescue centres and project sites seeking updates.

Authorities have been coordinating search operations across several affected hydropower projects. Rescue teams are examining tunnel entrances and damaged sections to identify possible access routes.

The discovery of survivors after nine days has raised hopes that other workers could also be found alive. However, officials continue to face major challenges because of the scale of the damage.