Rescue Mission Saves Two Trapped Workers in Nepal’s Flood‑Ravaged Tunnel

It felt like a scene out of a movie – two men, cramped and bruised, hearing rescuers’ voices echo through a dark tunnel after nine long days. Their names are Kabir Maharjan, 45, a mechanical supervisor, and Sanjay Sah, 30, a foreman, both working on the Trishuli 3A hydropower project in Rasuwa district.

The rescue didn’t happen by accident. Once the Nepal Army’s specialised unit caught faint shouts coming from inside the tunnel, they threw everything they had at the problem – heavy‑duty breathing gear, rescue dogs and a rope‑winch system that looked like something from a rock‑climbing gym.

Officials say the operation kicked into high gear the moment the voices were confirmed. The Army, backed by the Armed Police Force, cleared debris, pumped air, and finally, after a tense few minutes, hauled the two men to the surface. Both are alive, though understandably shaken, and receiving medical checks at a Kathmandu hospital.

This daring effort comes on the heels of the Bhotekohi flash‑flood disaster that began on August 26, when an ice‑rock avalanche slammed into the Nepal‑Tibet border, unleashing torrents that ravaged towns from Chitwan to Gorkha. So far, the death toll has climbed past 1,282, with dozens more still missing.

While the rescue offers a rare piece of good news, families across the country remain in mourning. The Nepal Police reports more than 1,200 bodies recovered across multiple districts, and relief agencies continue to distribute aid. Still, the successful extraction of Maharjan and Sah serves as a reminder that, even in the darkest moments, coordinated effort can bring back a sliver of hope.