KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Rescuers in Nepal successfully pulled two workers alive from an underground tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydropower plant on Friday, rekindling hopes of reaching dozens of others who are believed to be trapped. This rescue took place nine days after devastating floods swept through the Himalayan region, resulting in the destruction of villages and the inundation of areas with mud and debris.
In the morning, search teams first detected voices coming from the tunnel, enabling them to locate the two surviving men, confirmed Nepalese lawmaker Shri Ram Neupane. Footage captured the moment a rescuer carried one of the men, who was covered in mud, on his back, flanked by soldiers providing assistance.
According to Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet, an army spokesperson, one of the rescued men indicated that more individuals are still alive inside the tunnel, prompting an ongoing search operation. Emotional family members expressed their relief; Amir Maharjan, the brother of one of the rescued workers, conveyed his gratitude, stating, “I can’t explain what we are feeling at the moment. We are just grateful to God.”
Basnet formally confirmed the rescue of one worker, while Neupane shared news about the second rescuer on his Facebook page shortly thereafter. Both men were subsequently flown to a hospital in Kathmandu, with Maharjan mentioning that his family was en route to the medical facility. As per a statement from the Prime Minister's office, one of the survivors was in critical condition. The officials identified the rescued workers as a mechanical foreman and a mechanical supervisor.
The situation remains dire, with approximately 900 workers reported missing from 12 hydropower projects across Nepal. Authorities estimate that about 500 individuals are believed to be trapped within various tunnels, while the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal stated that around 115 are specifically believed to be trapped in the tunnel at Trishuli 3A alone.
Nepal’s Communication Minister Bikram Timilsina took to Facebook, expressing optimism as officials remain committed to rescuing more individuals from the disaster area. The floods, which struck on August 26, resulted in at least 1,287 fatalities, with more than 5,000 people reported missing, as noted by Nepal's disaster management agency. Additionally, Chinese official news agency Xinhua reported that 31 individuals were confirmed dead and 531 missing on the Tibetan side of the border.
The disaster agency in Nepal has estimated that the floods inflicted at least 387.5 billion Nepalese rupees (approximately $2.5 billion) in damages to both infrastructure and property. As rescue efforts continue, families and communities are anxiously awaiting further news on the trapped workers.
This report has been updated to clarify that the number of workers believed to be trapped in the tunnel at Trishuli 3A is in the dozens, rather than a dozen.
This article reflects contributions from Saaliq in New Delhi and Kanis Leung in Hong Kong.
