Full Breakdown
Rescue of Two Hydropower Workers After Nepal Flood Highlights Ongoing Search
9/8/2026, 11:03:45 AM
Core Event – Nine-Day Tunnel Rescue
On September 4, 2026, Nepalese rescuers pulled mechanical foreman Sanjay Sah and mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharjan alive from an air-filled chamber in the Upper Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel. They survived nine days after a glacier collapse on August 26 flooded the Trishuli valley. Rescuers located them after hearing faint voices and broke through a mud-clogged passage to bring the men to an army hospital in Kathmandu.
Background & Context
The August 26 glacier collapse triggered flash floods that swept away villages, roads and 12 hydropower projects along the Trishuli-Bhote Koshi river system. Official counts place the death toll between 1,287 and 1,399, with more than 5,000 still missing. Approximately 900 workers were on-site; about 115 are believed to have been trapped in the Trishuli 3A tunnel. Hydropower supplies nearly all of Nepal’s electricity, making the damaged facilities critical to the national grid.
Timeline
- August 26 – Glacier collapse and flash flood.
- September 4 – Rescue of Sah and Maharjan.
- September 5 – Chinese national Lu Haitao rescued from Upper Trishuli 1.
- September 7 – Authorities estimate 121 workers may still be trapped.
- September 8 – Rescue focus expands to three tunnels, including Chilime.
Data & Statistics
- Deaths: 1,287–1,399.
- Missing: >5,000 across Nepal and Tibet.
- Workers missing from hydropower sites: ?900; ?115 thought trapped in Trishuli 3A.
- Bodies recovered from tunnels: at least two.
- International aid: teams from India, China, South Korea, the United States and Australia.
Official Statements & Responses
- Lawmaker and tunnel engineer Shri Ram Neupane said rescuers heard multiple voices and received a response of “yes.”
- Communication Minister Bikram Timilsina said, “We are waiting for the rescue of more and more people.”
- Prime Minister Balendra Shah pledged that rescue operations would continue without “let-up.”
- Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha emphasized locating any remaining survivors.
- Army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet reported that one survivor said others were still alive deeper in the tunnel.
On-the-Ground Reports
Sah recited Hindu prayers and drank the muddy water he slept in to stay alive. He told rescuers he had warned colleagues to evacuate but could not escape in time. Maharjan, delirious after waking, did not recognize his wife. Their families expressed relief; Amir Maharjan, the brother of one survivor, said, “I can’t explain what we are feeling at the moment. We are just grateful to God.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Death toll figures differ by up to 112 between agencies.
- Workers still trapped reported as 115 (Independent Power Producers Association) and 121 (disaster authority).
- Nepal’s disaster agency cites >5,000 missing, while Chinese officials list 531 missing on the Tibet side, creating a combined missing count that varies across sources.
- Precise locations of many trapped workers remain unknown because flood-damaged entrances have obscured tunnel maps.
What’s Next
Rescue teams are now concentrating on three additional tunnels, notably Chilime, where oxygen pipes have been installed and high-pressure water jets are being used to clear debris. International experts continue to assist with controlled blasting and drilling. Nepal’s disaster authority has pledged “round-the-clock” operations until all viable access points are opened, with no specific completion date set.
