Rescuers in Nepal successfully extracted two workers from a hydropower tunnel, bringing hope to the rescue efforts for a group of twelve individuals who are believed to be trapped following severe floods that caused widespread devastation and destruction of towns and villages. The two workers, identified as Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan, were rescued from a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A construction site, according to a statement from Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha’s office.
The second rescue was confirmed by Nepalese lawmaker Shri Ram Neupane on his Facebook page, following the initial confirmation by army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet. Basnet revealed that one of the rescued workers informed rescuers about more individuals still alive inside the tunnel.
Rescuers were alerted to the presence of survivors inside the tunnel when they heard voices on Friday morning, allowing them to locate and extract the two men, as shared by Neupane. The rescued workers were seen covered in mud and being transported from the site, with one of them reported to be in critical condition and both airlifted to a hospital in Kathmandu.
Speaking to the media, Amir Maharjan, brother of one of the rescued workers, expressed gratitude and relief, stating that the family was en route to the hospital to reunite with their loved one.
Approximately 557 workers are missing from the Trishuli 3A hydropower project, with an estimated 115 individuals believed to be trapped in the tunnel, as reported by the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal. Communication Minister Bikram Timilsina conveyed optimism about the ongoing rescue operations, emphasizing the collective hope for the safe retrieval of additional workers.
The devastating floods on August 26 claimed the lives of at least 1,259 individuals, with over 5,000 still unaccounted for, as per the country’s disaster management agency. On the Chinese side of the border, authorities reported 21 fatalities and 541 missing persons due to the calamity. In total, around 900 workers are missing from twelve hydropower projects in Nepal, with an estimated 500 individuals presumed to be trapped in various tunnels, according to local authorities.
