In a remarkable rescue, two workers were pulled alive from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal on Friday. The rescue operation continues as teams strive to reach other individuals believed to be trapped. The Trishuli 3A tunnel became a site of devastation following floods, likely due to a glacier collapse. The disaster struck Nepal on August 26, causing havoc in towns and villages.
The rescued workers, identified as a mechanical foreman and a mechanical supervisor, were found nine days after the calamity. Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet, an army spokesperson, confirmed their rescue, with lawmaker Shri Ram Neupane sharing updates on social media. The men were carried from the site covered in mud, highlighting the challenging conditions of the rescue. They have since been transported to a hospital in Kathmandu.
Family members expressed immense relief upon hearing the news. Amir Maharjan, brother of Kabir Maharjan, one of the rescued workers, shared their gratitude. “We are just grateful to god,” he told The Associated Press, with the family rushing to the hospital.
“We couldn’t properly eat or drink for 10 days. We were very scared. Now we are all happy. We are even crying,” said Hirashova, the worker’s wife.
The tragedy extends further, with around 557 workers missing from the Trishuli 3A hydropower project. Approximately 115 are presumed trapped in the tunnel, based on data from the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal. The rescue site remains active, with officials expressing hope that more lives will be saved.
Nepal’s Communication Minister Bikram Timilsina voiced optimism, stating, “We are waiting for the rescue of more and more people.” As of now, Nepal’s disaster management agency reports that at least 1,259 people have succumbed to the floods, with over 5,000 still unaccounted for.
The situation is similarly grave on the Tibet side of the border, with China reporting 21 fatalities and 541 missing individuals. Across 12 hydropower projects in Nepal, about 900 workers are missing, including roughly 500 trapped in tunnels.
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