Two workers were rescued alive on Monday from the Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel in central Nepal, nine days after the monsoon‑driven floods that swept the region on August 26, killing at least 1,300 people and leaving thousands missing.
Flash floods devastate Nepal
The sudden deluge, triggered by unprecedented rains in the Nepal‑Tibet border area, turned valleys into raging rivers and buried infrastructure under meters of mud and debris. According to the BBC, the death toll has risen to nearly 1,300, with hundreds of families still searching for loved ones. Across the affected districts, entire villages were washed away, and critical hydropower projects – key to Nepal’s energy supply – were either submerged or collapsed.
In the disaster’s wake, families have turned to symbolic cremations, lighting funeral pyres for straw effigies when bodies cannot be recovered, a practice reported by the New York Times. The emotional toll is compounded by the logistical nightmare of delivering aid to isolated communities, where zip‑lines are now being used to ferry medicine and food.
Tunnel rescue operation
The Trishuli 3A tunnel, part of a larger hydroelectric scheme, lies about 170 metres underground. Two construction workers became trapped when a section of the tunnel collapsed under flood‑laden mud. Initial attempts to locate the entrance failed, prompting rescuers to dig through a wall of rock the size of a car, as described by the BBC’s “layer upon layer of miracles” narrative.
Rescue coordination unfolded largely through a WhatsApp group of engineers, including an Australian specialist who advised Nepalese authorities, according to Reuters. The group mapped the tunnel’s layout, identified weak points, and guided the use of controlled explosions to clear debris. Nepali army engineers and civilian rescue teams worked round‑the‑clock, employing drills, boreholes, and a makeshift winch system to reach the trapped men.
“The rescue was a miracle; every layer we removed brought us closer to life,” an army spokesperson said, echoing the sentiment echoed by Al Jazeera.
After nine days of painstaking work, rescuers finally reached the chamber where the two men were found alive but weak. They were extracted through a narrow shaft, hoisted to the surface, and taken to a field hospital for treatment.
Aftermath and ongoing search
While the successful rescue offers a glimmer of hope, officials say dozens more workers remain unaccounted for inside the tunnel network. The Guardian noted that “over a dozen” are believed to be still trapped, whereas other reports, such as those from France 24, suggest the number could be in the “dozens.” Search teams continue to clear access routes, using heavy equipment and additional explosives to widen the tunnel’s entrance.
Humanitarian agencies are also coping with a surge in displaced residents. The New York Times highlighted how families, grieving the loss of loved ones, are holding symbolic cremations, a practice that underscores the ongoing trauma. Meanwhile, the Nepalese government is mobilising medical supplies, food, and temporary shelter, with zip‑line delivery becoming a critical lifeline in the rugged terrain.
The rescue, described by multiple outlets as a “miracle,” showcases the resilience of Nepal’s emergency services and the international expertise that bolstered the effort. Yet, the broader picture remains grim: a nation grappling with massive loss of life, widespread destruction of essential infrastructure, and the daunting task of locating and rescuing the remaining workers still trapped underground.
