Kathmandu: Two hydropower workers have been rescued alive after spending nine days trapped inside a tunnel following devastating floods in Nepal, raising fresh hope that other missing workers could also have survived.
Sanjay Sah, a mechanical foreman, and Kabir Maharjan, a mechanical supervisor, were rescued from a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station on September 4. They had been trapped since the flooding struck the area on August 26.
Rescuers heard voices inside the tunnel before locating the two men. Their rescue came after days of difficult operations as teams worked through mud, rocks and other debris blocking access to the damaged tunnel.
The two workers were taken for medical treatment after being rescued. Maharjan was reported to be unable to move his hands and legs, while Sah's injuries were not considered critical.
One of the rescued workers indicated that other people could still be inside the tunnel. However, authorities have not confirmed how many people may remain there or whether they are alive.
The rescue demonstrates that the two workers were able to survive underground for more than a week despite the severe damage caused by the floods. It has also given families and rescue teams renewed hope as searches continue at other hydropower sites.
The wider disaster has caused more than 1,200 deaths in Nepal and left more than 4,000 people missing, according to the latest figures from Nepalese authorities. The figures continue to be verified as search and identification operations proceed.
The floods struck on August 26 along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors, including areas near Nepal's border with China. Rasuwa and several other districts were badly affected.
The disaster caused major damage to hydropower projects and other infrastructure. Hundreds of workers connected with hydropower facilities have been reported missing, with some believed to have been inside tunnels when the flooding occurred.
Rescue operations have been particularly difficult because several tunnel entrances were blocked by large amounts of mud and debris. At Upper Trishuli 3A, rescuers took several days to reach the tunnel entrance.
Nepal is receiving assistance from specialist rescue teams from India, China and South Korea. Nepali Army personnel and hydropower experts are also working at several affected sites.
Indian tunnel rescue personnel have been working at sites including Chilime and Langtang. Chinese rescue personnel have been assisting at Upper Trishuli 3A, while South Korean specialists have been working at Upper Trishuli 1.
Engineers have also been helping the rescue effort by sharing technical information about the tunnels and access routes.
The disaster is believed to have been linked to a glacier collapse or ice avalanche in the region. Authorities are still assessing the precise sequence of events that caused the flooding.
The disaster also affected China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Chinese authorities have reported 21 deaths and 541 people missing on the Chinese side.
The floods have caused widespread damage to roads, water systems, health facilities and other infrastructure in Nepal. About 10,000 households have required immediate relief, while government agencies and international organisations continue to support relief operations.
The discovery of Sah and Maharjan alive has given rescue teams and families renewed hope as searches continue at other affected hydropower sites.
Search and rescue operations are continuing at Upper Trishuli 3A and other affected hydropower sites as teams work to reach people who may still be trapped beneath the debris.