Two Workers Rescued Alive After 9 Days in Flooded Tunnel
Rescue teams in Nepal pulled two hydropower workers to safety after they survived more than a week trapped in a mud-clogged tunnel. The dramatic rescue brought hope to families of hundreds still missing after catastrophic flooding struck in late August.
Against impossible odds, two men walked out of darkness and into the arms of cheering rescuers in Nepal's remote Himalayan region on Friday.
Sanjay Shah, 30, and Kabir Maharjan, 45, had been trapped inside a hydropower tunnel for more than nine days after catastrophic flooding buried the entrance under mud and debris on August 26. Rescuers pulled Shah from the muddy opening first, helping him to his feet as cameras captured the emotional moment. Minutes later, they carried Maharjan out on an orange stretcher, his hands pressed together in prayer, his body caked in mud.
"I am so happy, my heart is lighter," said Amir Maharjan, the rescued worker's brother.
The breakthrough came after international tunnel expert Arnold Dix heard something remarkable. Rescuers had shouted into the darkness, "Don't worry, we are rescuing you." They received a faint response from inside: "hunchha," meaning yes or OK in Nepali. "After a week of 24/7 heartache, we might, just, be back in miracle country," Dix said as he boarded a flight to Nepal to join the effort.
Teams had spent days digging through 50 to 60 meters of debris blocking the Trishuli 3A tunnel. Less than an hour after detecting signs of life, they pulled both men to safety.
Shah suffered non-critical injuries while Maharjan cannot yet move his hands and legs. Both men are receiving medical care in Kathmandu. Their survival as mechanical workers means they likely knew the tunnel systems well enough to find air pockets and perhaps water sources inside.
Why This Inspires
This rescue proves that hope has a timeline longer than we think. Nine days feels like an eternity to be trapped in darkness, yet these two men held on. Their survival energizes rescue teams still searching multiple tunnel sites where officials believe more workers could be alive.
The disaster claimed more than 1,250 lives and left over 5,000 people missing across the region. But for two families, Friday brought an answer to their prayers. Rescue operations continue at Trishuli 3A and other hydropower sites, with teams now knowing that survival against these odds is possible.
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Based on reporting by France 24 English
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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