Nepal Flood Rescue: A remarkable rescue operation in Nepal has brought a rare moment of hope after two hydropower workers were found alive inside a tunnel nine days after devastating floods and landslides struck the country. The workers were rescued from the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project, where emergency teams had been battling mud, rocks and severely damaged infrastructure to reach people believed to be trapped underground

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A Rescue That Came After Days of Uncertainty

The two rescued workers were identified as Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan. Rescue teams reached them inside the underground complex after days of painstaking operations.

According to reports, Sah had been working at the project when floodwater suddenly entered the underground area. He reportedly helped colleagues escape but was unable to get out himself. Maharjan had travelled to the project for maintenance work shortly before the disaster.

Their survival has given rescuers renewed motivation to continue searching other sections of the damaged hydropower facilities.

Mud and Rock Turned the Tunnel Into a Death Trap

The disaster severely complicated rescue efforts. Floodwater carried enormous quantities of mud, stones and debris into the hydropower infrastructure, blocking access to underground areas.

At Trishuli 3A, rescue personnel had to work through difficult conditions before they could properly reach the tunnel sections where workers might still be alive. Reports indicate that the rescued men were located deep underground, with the operation requiring specialised equipment and coordinated work by multiple agencies.

The rescue teams continued their work despite the possibility of additional flooding and unstable terrain.

Nepal’s Security Forces Lead the Operation

The rescue effort involved personnel from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, along with technical specialists connected to the hydropower project.

Specialised rescue units were deployed to search through the damaged underground structures. Engineers and technical personnel also played an important role in determining how rescuers could safely advance through the blocked sections.

The successful recovery of the two workers demonstrated the importance of combining military rescue expertise with engineering knowledge during a complex underground emergency.

India Also Contributed to the Wider Rescue Effort

The disaster prompted assistance from neighbouring countries, including India. Indian specialists were deployed to support rescue and identification efforts, while Indian authorities also helped evacuate nationals affected by the disaster.

According to reporting from September 1, 163 Indian nationals had been rescued in Nepal, while an Indian tunnel-rescue team was working in affected hydropower areas.

This cooperation highlighted the importance of regional coordination when a major disaster cuts off roads, bridges and conventional access routes.

Hundreds of Hydropower Workers Were Unaccounted For

The Trishuli 3A rescue is only one part of a much larger search operation. Authorities have been looking for workers from multiple hydropower projects affected by the floods.

Reports have put the number of missing hydropower workers at around 900 across 12 projects, with hundreds believed to have been trapped underground.

That makes the discovery of Sah and Maharjan particularly significant. Their survival demonstrates that people trapped inside damaged tunnels may remain alive even after several days, encouraging rescuers to continue searching areas that initially appeared inaccessible.

A Disaster That Changed the Rescue Landscape

The devastating floods began after a major natural event near the Nepal-Tibet border. A glacier-related collapse triggered a powerful surge of water and debris that moved through river valleys, damaging settlements and hydropower infrastructure.

The resulting destruction created an unusually difficult rescue environment. Roads and bridges were damaged, river conditions remained dangerous and large quantities of debris blocked access to affected locations.

For rescue teams, every operation therefore involved two challenges: finding survivors and ensuring rescuers themselves were not placed in danger.

Hope Has Returned to Families Waiting for News

For families of missing workers, the rescue of two people after so many days has provided an emotional boost.

The successful operation does not mean the wider crisis is over. Search teams are continuing to investigate tunnel systems and other locations where people may remain trapped.

The two survivors were taken for medical assessment after being brought out of the tunnel. One of them was reported to be in a stable condition, while the other required more intensive medical attention.

The Search Continues

The rescue of Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan has become one of the most hopeful developments in Nepal’s devastating flood crisis. After days in darkness, mud and isolation, their emergence alive has shown rescuers and families that the possibility of survival cannot be ruled out simply because several days have passed.

Emergency teams are therefore continuing their underground searches, hoping that the breakthrough at Trishuli 3A can lead to more survivors being brought back safely.