Nepal rescuers find 2 alive in tunnel
Photo: Courtesy
Rescuers pulled two survivors alive from a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project on Friday, nine days after a flash flood ripped through the Trishuli river corridor in Nepal.
The rescue has fueled hopes that more workers remain trapped inside the structure. Shri Ram Neupane, an engineer and a lawmaker representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party who has participated in the search operations, identified the rescued individuals as mechanical foreman Sanjay Sah and mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharjan.
Search teams first extracted Sah, and shortly after, they successfully rescued Maharjan. Neupane said the rescue teams received information regarding additional people potentially trapped inside the tunnel, prompting them to continue their active search.
The breakthrough occurred when rescuers heard faint voices originating from deep within the tunnel and established direct communication with the trapped men. Following these signs of life, the Nepali Army and the Armed Police Force immediately intensified their rescue operations to reach the site.
Reflecting on the tense moments of contact, Neupane added, “The rescue team called out, ‘Don’t panic, we are here to rescue you,’ and received a response from inside saying, ‘Okay’.” He later confirmed that rescuers verified the presence of multiple individuals inside the tunnel structure.
The 26 August flash flood ravaged the Trishuli river valley, claiming 1,252 lives while destroying critical road links and damaging several hydropower projects. Since then, search units have braved extremely hazardous and difficult conditions to locate any remaining survivors trapped inside the tunnels and other devastated structures.
Source: The Kathmandu Post (adapted)
