Nepal search teams rescue two workers from hydropower tunnel | Floods News
Rescue Operation Finds Survivors Nine Days After Catastrophic Flood in Nepal
By Al Jazeera Staff
Sept. 4, 2026
Search teams in Nepal have successfully rescued two men from a hydropower tunnel that had been buried under debris following a devastating flash flood nine days ago. The rescue took place early Friday at the construction site of the Trishuli 3A hydropower plant.
The two individuals, identified as Sanjay Shah, 30, and Kabir Maharjan, 45, were pulled alive from the main tunnel, raising hopes that more of the hundreds of workers believed to be trapped in similar situations might still be found. The flood, triggered by the partial collapse of a glacier, has resulted in over 1,200 fatalities and caused extensive damage across various communities as water, rock, and mud swept down the Himalayan valleys.
Footage released by Nepal’s Ministry of Energy captures a moment of celebration as one survivor emerged from a muddy opening and was assisted by rescuers. The other man, despite being covered in mud, was seen expressing gratitude as he was transported on a stretcher.
The Nepali Army stated that both men are currently receiving medical treatment and will be transferred to a hospital in Kathmandu. They are the first survivors recovered from hydropower stations or construction projects in the aftermath of the disaster. Approximately 557 workers from the Trishuli 3A project remain unaccounted for, with about 115 thought to be trapped in the main tunnel.
According to an army spokesperson, one of the rescues indicated that additional survivors might still be alive within the tunnel. Nepal’s Communication Minister, Bikram Timilsina, expressed optimism for further rescues, urging patience while search operations continue.
The disaster on August 26 has left more than 5,000 individuals missing in Nepal and in Chinese-controlled Tibet. While Nepal has largely declined international assistance, a 15-member team of drone specialists from Australia arrived on Friday to support the ongoing rescue efforts at the request of the Nepali government. Currently, 36 Australian citizens are among the missing.
Jeremy Fewtrell, commissioner of Fire and Rescue New South Wales, highlighted the team’s goal of locating any additional survivors. “We are still holding out hope that people might still be surviving in some sort of locations,” he said.
As of this report, at least 1,287 people have been confirmed dead in Nepal, with tens of thousands displaced. In China’s Tibet region, authorities reported 21 fatalities and 541 individuals missing.
