Nepal tunnel rescue: Two workers pulled out alive nine days after flash floods
Kathmandu: Two workers were rescued alive from a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project in Nepal on Friday (September 4, 2026), nine days after devastating flash floods struck the region. The rescue brought a rare moment of relief amid the destruction caused by the disaster.
The two men have been identified as Kabir Maharjan (45), a mechanical supervisor, and Sanjay Sah (30), a foreman at the project, according to the Public Relations Directorate of the Nepal Army.
The Nepal Army-led security command has been conducting search and rescue operations using specialised equipment. The breakthrough came when rescuers heard voices from inside the tunnel and established communication with those believed to be trapped, the Kathmandu Post reported. Following this, the Nepali Army and the Armed Police Force intensified their efforts to reach the trapped workers.
The flash floods, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, devastated towns and villages in northern and central Nepal, leaving a trail of destruction. According to Nepal Police, the death toll has reached 1,282 as of Friday. A total of 359 bodies have been recovered in Chitwan, 218 in Nawalparasi East, 208 in Nawalparasi West, 185 in Nuwakot, 72 in Gorkha, 60 in Dhading, 140 in Rasuwa and 38 in Tanahu. Additionally, two people died while undergoing treatment in two hospitals in Kathmandu.
The successful rescue of Maharjan and Sah offers a glimmer of hope as rescue teams continue to search for other missing persons. The incident underscores the resilience of the workers and the determined efforts of the security forces involved in the operation.
