Two Men Rescued From Flood-Hit Nepali Hydropower Plant as Voices Are Heard Inside Tunnel
Two men have been rescued from inside a flood-stricken hydropower plant in Nepal, raising hopes that more workers could still be alive after being trapped for nine days following devastating flash floods and landslides.
The men were rescued from the Trishuli 3A hydropower plant in Nuwakot district, where emergency teams have been carrying out a difficult search for workers believed to be trapped inside underground tunnels.
The rescue came after rescuers reportedly heard voices coming from inside the tunnel. A video from the scene showed a group of rescuers pulling one of the men through a small opening in the ground before applauding as he was brought to safety.
Bipin Regmi, the police chief in the flood-hit district, said rescuers had heard voices from inside the site and that medical teams were being sent to assist the survivors.
The underground tunnel leading to the plant’s powerhouse stretches for more than four kilometres, making the rescue operation extremely challenging. Workers were inside the facility when huge amounts of floodwater and mud swept through the area.
The Trishuli River and surrounding areas were hit by powerful floods and landslides that caused widespread destruction across the Himalayan region. More than 1,200 people have been reported killed in Nepal, while hundreds of workers remain unaccounted for at several energy projects.
Authorities estimate that more than 900 workers could still be missing across multiple hydropower projects in the Himalayas. The missing workers include nationals from Nepal as well as foreign workers from countries including China, South Korea and India.
The rescue operation at Trishuli 3A had focused on locating 42 workers who were initially reported unaccounted for at the plant.
The discovery of the two survivors has renewed hopes for those still missing, although it remains unclear how many people may still be alive inside the tunnels.
Rescue teams have been working under dangerous conditions while attempting to clear debris and create access points into the underground facilities. The scale of the flooding and landslides has made it difficult for rescuers to reach some areas.
Indian Army Colonel Parikshit Mehra, who has been involved in the rescue effort, previously warned that time was critical for people trapped underground. He said the first 48 hours are generally the most important in a rescue situation because people can become increasingly disoriented, frightened and physically weak when trapped in darkness.
However, the successful rescue of the two men after nine days has offered a powerful reminder that survivors may still be found.
“There have been miracles,” Mehra said.
The rescue operation is continuing as teams search for other workers who remain missing, with families anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.
