09/04/2026
Two Workers Rescued Alive After More Than a Week Trapped in Flood-Hit Nepal Tunnel
Two workers have been rescued alive from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal more than a week after devastating floods struck the region near the Chinese border.
The two men were pulled from the tunnel and taken to a hospital as rescuers continued searching for others who may still be trapped inside. Authorities have not yet confirmed exactly how many people remain underground.
Rescue teams reported hearing voices from inside the facility and have been working through collapsed sections by hand. Crews also used explosives to clear massive rocks, some reportedly as large as cars, blocking access to the tunnel.
One of the rescued workers, 30-year-old mechanical foreman Sanjay Sah, said he had no idea how many days had passed. In video recorded after his rescue, Sah was seen lying under a blanket while receiving oxygen.
Sah said that when the disaster struck, around 40 to 45 people were in the area where he was working. He explained that he focused on helping others evacuate but ultimately ran out of time to escape himself.
“It was my responsibility to save everyone’s life,” Sah said.
He believes others could still be trapped inside, noting that the tunnel is extremely long.
During his time underground, Sah said he kept himself going by chanting Hindu mantras.
Rescuers are continuing the search as they work to reach anyone else who may still be alive inside the buried tunnel.
