A major rescue operation is underway in Rasuwa, Nepal, after a flash flood devastated the area and left hundreds of people missing.
At the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project, rescuers successfully pulled out two workers, Sanjaya Shah and Kabir Maharjan, alive nine days after the disaster. Both were taken by helicopter to hospitals in Kathmandu for medical treatment. Officials said they suffered injuries to their hands and legs and were also affected by a lack of oxygen.
The breakthrough came after rescue workers heard voices coming from inside the tunnel. They reportedly called to those trapped inside, reassuring them that rescuers were there. A faint response was heard, raising hopes that other workers could still be alive.
Officials believe 39 workers may still be inside the particular tunnel, although they have not yet been able to confirm how many are alive. Rescue teams are working carefully through mud, debris and difficult underground conditions to reach them.
Engineers have been pumping oxygen into the tunnels while heavy machinery is being used to clear the debris. Rescue workers had already managed to dig through roughly 50–60 metres of material blocking the tunnel before reaching the survivors.
The situation extends beyond this one location. Rescue operations are also taking place at several other hydropower sites, where more than 150 people are feared trapped. The wider disaster has caused enormous loss of life, with more than 1,200 deaths reported.
The rescue of Shah and Maharjan has therefore become a major moment of hope. Families and rescuers are waiting for further breakthroughs as teams continue searching the tunnels for anyone else who may have survived.
