Two Workers Found Alive in Nepal Tunnel Nine Days after Devastating Flash Floods
KATHMANDU: Two workers were rescued alive from a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli 3A hydropower project in central Nepal on Friday, nine days after a devastating ice, rock and mud slide swept through the Trishuli River corridor.
The rescued workers were identified as Kabir Maharjan, 45, a mechanical supervisor, and Sanjay Sah, 30, a mechanical foreman, officials said. They were pulled out by rescue teams from the tunnel after remaining trapped since the August 26 disaster.
The rescue operation was carried out by Nepali security forces, including the Nepal Army and Armed Police Force. The two men were subsequently taken to Kathmandu for medical treatment.
An aide to Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha said Maharjan was unable to move his hands and legs, while Sah’s injuries were not considered critical.
Maharjan’s wife described his rescue as receiving a “second life” and thanked the rescuers who risked their own lives during the difficult operation.
The August 26 disaster caused widespread destruction along the Trishuli River after an ice, rock and mud slide swept through the valley. Officials and rescue workers believe hundreds of people were trapped in tunnels associated with several hydropower projects in the area, with rescue teams continuing their search for survivors.
