Nine Days In Darkness: Two Nepal Workers Rescued Alive From Flood-Hit Tunnel

After days of death, destruction and desperate searches for the missing, a remarkable rescue has offered a rare moment of hope in flood-ravaged Nepal. Two hydropower workers have been pulled alive from a tunnel after spending nine days trapped underground, surviving the catastrophe that devastated communities across the country.

The workers were discovered about 170 metres inside a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station after rescuers heard voices from within. They were eventually brought out alive and taken to Kathmandu for medical treatment. Their survival has given families of other missing people renewed hope that those trapped in inaccessible locations could still be found.

The rescue has also raised an urgent question for search teams: could more survivors still be trapped inside tunnels, damaged buildings or beneath the enormous quantities of mud and debris? Authorities have not confirmed that others remain inside the hydropower tunnel, but the continuing uncertainty has intensified the search across badly affected areas.

The disaster has claimed 1,295 lives, while around 5,000 people remain missing, according to Nepal Police. More than 13,000 people have been rescued so far. Helicopters, excavation machinery and specialised rescue teams are continuing operations in areas that remain difficult to access because roads, bridges and communication networks have been severely damaged.

Among the most distressing figures are those involving children. Nearly 600 children are unaccounted for in Rasuwa and Nuwakot. Officials estimate that around 280 children are missing in Rasuwa and another 300 to 350 in Nuwakot. The figures remain provisional because damaged communications have made it difficult to verify records.

The floods, which struck on August 26, sent massive volumes of water, mud and debris through communities along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems. At least 12 schools have been completely destroyed, including four in Rasuwa and eight in Nuwakot, adding to the disruption faced by children and families.

India has stepped up humanitarian support, with two C-130J aircraft delivering 21.5 tonnes of relief material, including medical supplies and forensic kits. India has also offered DNA profiling assistance to help identify victims through comparisons with first-degree relatives of missing people.

As Nepal begins the long process of rescue and recovery, the survival of the two workers has become a powerful reminder that hope can endure even after days of darkness. For families still waiting for their loved ones including hundreds searching for children the search continues.