Nepal Tunnel Miracle: Two Workers Pulled Alive After 10 Days Underground
Rescuers in Nepal pulled two workers alive from the Upper Trishuli 3-A hydropower tunnel after 10 days trapped by flood damage, in a dramatic operation that is still unfolding.
In a remarkable rescue operation in Nepal, two workers were brought out alive on Friday morning after spending 10 days trapped inside a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli 3-A Hydropower Project in Rasuwa.
The survivors, Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan, were rescued by a joint team from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police following flooding linked to the Bhotekoshi river. The operation has gripped the country as crews worked through mud, debris, and dangerous underground conditions to reach the trapped workers.
A tense rescue after 10 days underground
The tunnel rescue unfolded after floodwaters and debris cut off access to the hydropower site, leaving workers trapped deep inside the project area. Rescue teams spent days clearing blocked passages, pumping out water, and pushing through the tunnel in an effort to reach anyone still alive.
Officials later confirmed that both men were found and rescued alive, turning what had been a desperate search into a rare survival story amid a wider disaster response.
One worker stable, the other critical
According to reports, Sanjay Sah is in normal health condition, while Kabir Maharjan remains in critical condition. The contrast in their conditions underscores how brutal the experience was, even for those who survived the ordeal.
Medical teams were expected to continue monitoring both men closely after extraction, especially Maharjan, whose condition suggests the physical toll of being trapped for so long was severe.
Why this rescue matters
This is more than just a local rescue story. It highlights the extreme risks faced by workers at large infrastructure projects when nature turns violent. Nepal's hydropower sites, often built in challenging terrain, can become especially vulnerable during floods and landslides.
The successful rescue also shows how critical coordinated emergency response can be when time, terrain, and weather are all working against rescue crews.
A wider disaster response continues
The tunnel operation was part of a broader emergency effort in flood-hit Rasuwa, where authorities have been dealing with damage, missing persons, and difficult recovery conditions across multiple sites. Even as two lives were saved, the situation on the ground remained urgent.
For now, the rescue of Sah and Maharjan stands out as a powerful reminder that even after days of darkness, survival is still possible when rescue teams keep pushing forward.