Key facts
- Two survivors, Sanjaya Shah and Kabir Maharjan, were rescued from a collapsed hydropower tunnel in Nepal.
- The rescue operation followed devastating flash floods that hit the Nepal-Tibet border region.
- Tunnelling expert Arnold Dix advised Nepalese authorities on the complex rescue efforts.
- Rescuers used explosives to clear debris and dug trenches to drain water from the tunnel.
- The operation is ongoing to reach potentially more survivors trapped deeper within the hydropower station.
Rescuers in Nepal are intensifying efforts to locate dozens of workers believed to be trapped in tunnels, nine days after devastating flash floods struck the border region with Tibet. Hopes have been bolstered by the successful extraction of two men, Sanjaya Shah and Kabir Maharjan, from a blocked hydropower tunnel on Friday, a feat described by tunnelling expert Arnold Dix as "layer upon layer of miracles."
The massive flash flood, suspected to be triggered by a glacial collapse, swept through a Himalayan valley, causing widespread devastation and resulting in at least 1,311 confirmed deaths and 5,330 missing individuals in Nepal and Tibet. Hundreds of foreign citizens are among those unaccounted for.
At the Trishuli 3A hydropower site, rescuers heard faint voices in the early hours of Friday, leading them to the two survivors. Both Shah and Maharjan sustained injuries, possibly from crawling through the tunnel, and were airlifted to the Army Hospital in Kathmandu. Maharjan is reported to be in critical condition.
The body of a third person was also discovered in the same tunnel, though it could not be immediately identified due to swelling. Officials estimate that an additional 39 people may still be trapped within the Trishuli 3A tunnel, and rescue operations are continuing to reach them and potentially more individuals deeper within the main hydropower station.
Rescuers have faced significant challenges, including pumping air into the tunnels and dealing with mud and rocks that have made entry difficult. Heavy machinery was washed away by the floodwaters, complicating efforts. Engineers are continuing to dig access holes and clear debris, with approximately 150 meters remaining to reach the main hydropower station. Experts are also studying the role of climate change in the glacial collapse.