Two Workers Rescued from Nepal Hydropower Tunnel Nine Days After Catastrophic Floods

POLICY WIRE — Kathmandu, Nepal — Emergency crews successfully extracted two survivors from a hydropower tunnel on Friday, marking a breakthrough in a desperate search operation for workers trapped by catastrophic flooding.

The men were recovered from the Trishuli 3A tunnel nine days after August 26 floods, which officials believe were triggered by a glacier collapse, decimated local villages and towns.

The rescue was confirmed through two channels: army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet announced the first survivor, while lawmaker Shri Ram Neupane shared news of the second rescue via Facebook.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal expressed that he is “thrilled” by the outcome and is hoping to see more survivors, noting in a text to Inocencio that the discovery of voices suggests others may still be alive.

Khanal emphasized that time is of the essence as teams race to reach remaining trapped individuals.

According to Neupane, the operation gained momentum Friday morning when rescuers first detected voices emanating from within the tunnel, allowing them to pinpoint the location of the two men.

Footage broadcast by local television stations showed the first survivor, caked in mud, being carried away from the site on the shoulder of a rescuer.

Authorities reported that both men are in stable condition and have been airlifted to a medical facility in Kathmandu for treatment.

Kabir Maharjan, a mechanical supervisor and one of the rescued men, was greeted by his brother, Amir Maharjan. Speaking to The Associated Press, Amir stated he “cannot explain what we are feeling at the moment” and added, “We are just grateful to God.”

The scale of the disaster remains immense. The Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal reports that at least 557 workers are missing from the Trishuli 3A project, with approximately 115 believed to be stuck in the primary tunnel.

A Nepali energy adviser explained to Inocencio that the site is not a simple tunnel but a complex network of chambers and rooms winding beneath the earth near the Trishuli River.

The adviser noted that the trapped personnel include some of Nepal’s most skilled engineers, who have likely been attempting to secure oxygen and find an exit, as air depletion remains the primary threat.

The broader toll of the floods is staggering, with the national disaster management agency reporting at least 1,287 deaths and more than 5,000 people still missing.

The tragedy extended across borders; China reported as of late Wednesday that 21 people died and 541 are missing in the Tibet region.

Local authorities estimate that roughly 900 workers are missing across 12 different hydropower sites in Nepal, with about 500 of those believed to be trapped underground.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)