KATHMANDU (Rajeev Sharma): In a remarkable rescue after days of uncertainty, two workers trapped inside a tunnel at Nepal’s Trishuli 3A hydropower project have been found alive, 10 days after devastating flash floods struck the region.
The survivors have been identified as 45-year-old Kabir Maharjan and 30-year-old Sanjay Sah. Maharjan was working as a mechanical supervisor at the project, while Sah was serving as a foreman, according to information released by the Nepal Army’s Public Relations Directorate.
Voices led rescuers to trapped workers
The rescue operation gained fresh momentum after teams searching the damaged hydropower complex heard voices coming from inside the tunnel. Personnel were subsequently able to establish communication with those believed to be trapped underground, according to reports.
The Nepal Army and Armed Police Force then intensified their efforts to reach the men. Specialised rescue equipment was deployed as security personnel worked through the difficult conditions created by the flooding and debris.
The discovery of the two workers alive provided a rare moment of relief amid a disaster that has claimed a large number of lives.
Rescue teams faced difficult conditions
A Nepal Army-led security command has been conducting search and rescue operations in the affected areas, using specialised machinery and equipment to locate people who may still be trapped.
The hydropower project was among the sites affected by the destructive flooding, with debris and damaged infrastructure complicating efforts to reach potentially stranded workers.
The successful recovery of Maharjan and Sah also demonstrates the importance of continued search operations even days after a major disaster.
Nepal flood death toll reaches 1,282
While the rescue brought hope, Nepal continued to deal with a devastating loss of life.
The death toll from the August 26 flash floods had risen to 1,282 by Friday, according to Nepal Police. The disaster was triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, sending a massive surge of water and debris into communities across northern and central Nepal.
Authorities have recovered hundreds of bodies from several districts.
According to Nepal Police, the reported recoveries include:
Chitwan: 359 bodies
Nawalparasi East: 218
Nawalparasi West: 208
Nuwakot: 185
Rasuwa: 140
Gorkha: 72
Dhading: 60
Tanahu: 38
Two additional people died while receiving treatment at hospitals in Kathmandu, bringing the overall toll to 1,282.
Search efforts continue
The rescue of the two hydropower workers has offered a significant boost to ongoing operations, but authorities continue to face the enormous task of searching devastated communities and infrastructure for those still missing.
For families waiting for news of loved ones, the survival of Maharjan and Sah after 10 days provides a reminder that rescue efforts can still yield unexpected outcomes long after a disaster has struck.
