Full Breakdown
Rescue Efforts in Nepal’s Hydropower Tunnels Nine Days After Catastrophic Floods
9/4/2026, 7:44:30 AM
The Breakthrough Rescue at Trishuli 3A
On September 4, 2026, Nepali rescuers pulled two workers alive from the Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel, nine days after the August 26 flash floods devastated the Rasuwa district. The survivors, Sanjay Sah, a 30-year-old mechanical foreman, and Kabir Maharjan, a 45-year-old mechanical supervisor, were taken to a Kathmandu hospital in stable condition. Army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet confirmed the rescue, and lawmaker Shri Ram Neupane posted about it on Facebook.
Background and Context
The floods were triggered by a massive glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border, sending water, ice, rock and mud down the Trishuli River. Nepal’s disaster management agency recorded at least 1,259 deaths and more than 5,000 missing, while Chinese authorities reported 21 deaths and 541 missing on the Tibetan side. Dozens of hydropower projects were buried, leaving an estimated 900 workers unaccounted for across 12 sites, with roughly 500 believed trapped in underground tunnels.
Scope of the Ongoing Search
- Missing workers: IPPA cites 557 workers missing from Trishuli 3A, about 115 thought to be inside the main tunnel. Across all projects, local authorities estimate 900 missing, 500 of whom may be trapped.
- Rescue progress: By early September, rescuers had recovered more than 1,250 bodies and rescued 279 people from flooded sites. The Nepalese army, assisted by technical teams from India, China, Korea and Australia, continues to bore through mud-filled tunnel entrances, sometimes using controlled explosives.
- International assistance: Experts such as Arnold Dix, president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, have been deployed remotely and are traveling to Nepal to support the effort.
Official Statements & Responses
- Army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet said rescuers heard faint voices inside the tunnel and are using “every technology available” with foreign expertise.
- Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha confirmed the identities of the rescued workers and noted that Kabir Maharjan cannot move his hands and legs, while Sah’s injuries are not critical.
- National Emergency Operation Centre senior official Phanindra Paudel warned that “the hope of finding survivors is decreasing.”
Criticism & Opposition
Ashish Pradhan, senior adviser at the International Crisis Group, criticized the government’s early response: “I think this government could have maybe done better, and certainly the initial hesitation to reach out to outside help was something that they course-corrected on.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are waiting for the rescue of more and more people,” — Bikram Timilsina, communication minister
- “In Rasuwagadhi, we think 46 people are trapped in a room-like structure in the tunnel,” — Amhsu Kiran Shahi, board member, Nepal Electricity Authority
- “I can’t explain what we are feeling at the moment. We are just grateful to god,” — Amir Maharjan, brother of rescued worker
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Death tolls: Sources differ, reporting 1,259 (disaster agency), 1,204 (Guardian), 1,114 (UN) and roughly 1,200 in other outlets.
- Missing persons: Reported missing range from 3,925 (disaster agency) to 4,400 (UN) and 5,000 in some media summaries.
- Worker counts: IPPA cites 557 missing at Trishuli 3A, while other reports mention 900 missing across all projects. The exact number still trapped remains unverified, with authorities relying on intermittent voice detections and limited oxygen measurements.
Why It Matters
The rescue operation highlights the vulnerability of Nepal’s rapidly expanding hydropower sector, which supplies over 99 % of the nation’s electricity. The disaster underscores the need for robust emergency protocols in underground construction, improved early-warning systems for glacial instability, and coordinated international assistance in large-scale mountain emergencies.
