Two workers trapped within a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project in Nepal have been successfully rescued alive, nine days following the catastrophic flash floods that impacted the Nepal-Tibet border.
The successful rescue of Sanjaya Shah and Kabir Maharjan has ignited hope for other workers who are still believed to be trapped underground in the wake of the disaster, which has reportedly resulted in over 1,300 fatalities.
Dramatic footage from the rescue operation depicted the two men being extracted from the tunnel alive after enduring more than a week underground.
Authorities reported that Shah and Maharjan suffered injuries to their hands and legs. They were subsequently airlifted to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, for medical care.
Rescue teams continue to search for other workers trapped within the tunnel. It is estimated that at least 39 individuals remain inside the same tunnel, while over 100 others are still unaccounted for across a network of tunnels associated with hydropower projects along the Trishuli River.
The rescue operation persists under extremely challenging conditions following the extensive flooding that devastated communities and infrastructure in the area.
The floods, which occurred last Wednesday, are believed to have been instigated by a glacial collapse. Roads and buildings were obliterated, and thousands of individuals were reported missing in the aftermath.
Nevertheless, the successful rescue of Shah and Maharjan has significantly bolstered ongoing search efforts.
Shortly after the two men were rescued, rescuers also retrieved the body of another individual from the Trishuli 3A tunnel.
Suresh Raut, a deputy manager with the Nepal Electricity Authority who was present at the scene, stated that the condition of the recovered body made immediate identification challenging.
“The body found inside the tunnel is swollen and could not be identified,” Raut remarked.
He further noted that the individual appeared to have perished after being engulfed by floodwaters while attempting to escape from the tunnel.
Despite the recent discovery, officials maintain optimism that additional survivors may still be located.
Authorities are persisting in their attempts to reach the remaining workers, holding onto the hope that at least 39 individuals trapped within the tunnel can be rescued safely.
The rescue mission is underway as Nepal grapples with the severe consequences of the floods, with search teams deployed throughout the impacted regions to find missing persons and evaluate the extent of the disaster.
