In a dramatic and tense operation, Nepalese rescuers successfully pulled two workers alive from the Trishuli-3A hydropower tunnel on Friday. This ongoing effort aims to locate and save others still believed to be trapped inside following devastating floods.
The flood disaster, likely triggered by a glacier collapse, struck Nepal severely on August 26. Entire towns were devastated, and villages washed away, resulting in immense human impact. The rescue of the two men, identified as a mechanical foreman and a supervisor, comes nine days after the disaster began. Official confirmations were made by Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet, an army spokesperson.
Shri Ram Neupane, a Nepalese lawmaker, shared news of the second rescue on his Facebook page. Images from local television news depicted the first rescued worker covered in mud and carried to safety by a rescuer. Both rescued men remain in stable condition and have been airlifted to a hospital in Kathmandu for further treatment.
“We are waiting for the rescue of more and more people,” Communication Minister Bikram Timilsina expressed hope in his Facebook update.
Authorities confirm that at least 557 workers are missing, with about 115 trapped in the main tunnel according to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal. Present at the site, officials believe there remains a chance for more survivors inside the tunnel.
In a broader impact from the floods, Nepal’s disaster management agency reported over 1,259 fatalities, alongside more than 5,000 individuals still missing. Neighboring China reported casualties of 21 persons and 541 missing within its Tibet region.
Additional distress is felt across Nepal’s energy sector. Around 900 workers remain missing from 12 hydropower projects throughout the country, with nearly 500 suspected to be trapped within tunnels.
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