Two workers, Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan, were rescued from the Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel in Nepal after being trapped for ten days. The men were stranded following devastating flash floods on August 26 that blocked the tunnel with boulders and debris, triggering a massive rescue operation led by the Nepal Army.
Tunnel rescue expert Arnold Dix, who assisted remotely, described the mission as an unprecedented victory that rewrites rescue protocols. Rescuers faced extreme challenges, including the need to blast through car-sized boulders and pump air into the tunnel to prevent toxic conditions, while successfully identifying "Goldilocks zones" where survivors could potentially shelter.
Arnold Dix explained that as floodwaters surged, workers likely ran upward through the tunnel - essentially being chased by rising water, boulders, sediment, and mud. A blockage of rocks and debris ultimately sealed the tunnel. While this trapped the workers inside in horrific conditions, it critically prevented them from drowning.
The successful recovery of the two men has provided renewed hope for locating approximately 35 other workers believed to be trapped in the same tunnel. Across the wider river valley, search efforts continue for roughly 150 workers who remain missing following the severe flooding that impacted multiple power plants.
