Two Workers Rescued from Nepal Hydropower Tunnel Nine Days After Glacier Collapse

Two workers have been rescued alive from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal, nine days after being trapped by a catastrophic glacier collapse on the Trishuli River. The rescue on Friday is the first successful operation of its kind from the region's vital hydropower projects, which were severely impacted by the disaster.

The Rescue

The two survivors were identified as Sanjay Sah, a mechanical foreman, and Kabir Maharjan, a mechanical supervisor, according to a statement from Nepal's Energy Minister's office. They were extracted from a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station.

Nepali authorities released footage showing the rescue. An army official at the scene confirmed Sah's vital signs appeared normal. An aide to the energy minister told Reuters that Maharjan was unable to move his hands and legs, while Sah's injuries were not considered critical. Both men were scheduled to be transported to a hospital in Kathmandu.

Scale of the Disaster

The rescue comes after a devastating slide of ice, rock, and mud swept through a valley in Nepal on August 26. The event was triggered by the collapse of a glacier on the upper reaches of the Trishuli River.

Ad

Official figures reported by Reuters detail the extensive human cost:

• At least 1,252 people have been killed in Nepal.
• More than 4,200 people remain missing in the country.
• In neighboring Tibet, China has reported 21 deaths and 541 missing.

Impact on Hydropower Sector

The disaster has had a significant impact on the region's energy infrastructure. Officials believe at least 900 people were trapped inside tunnels connected to six different hydropower projects along the Trishuli River.

The rescue of Sah and Maharjan marks the first survivors to be pulled from any of the affected hydropower facilities. The incident underscores the extreme risks to workers and infrastructure in the seismically active and climate-vulnerable Himalayan region, a hub for hydropower development.