Chinese National Rescued Alive From Nepal Tunnel 10 Days After Deadly Floods

Two people who had been missing since the devastating August 26 floods in Nepal were rescued alive from separate locations in Trishuli on Saturday

As the Nepal Army-led search and rescue operation entered its 11th day. One of the survivors, a Chinese national, was rescued from a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project after rescuers cleared and advanced 225 metres into the tunnel. In a separate rescue operation, a woman was found alive on the fourth floor of a house in Betrabati, one of the areas worst affected by the floods.

Both survivors were airlifted to Kathmandu for medical treatment.

The rescues came a day after two workers were pulled out alive from the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station. Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan were found around 170 metres inside the hydropower tunnel.

The successful operations have raised hopes that more people could still be alive inside tunnels at Nepal’s hydropower projects. Authorities estimate that around 900 workers remain missing across hydropower sites, with nearly 500 believed to be trapped underground.

At the Trishuli 3A project alone, around 115 workers are believed to remain trapped, according to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal.

Saturday’s search operation at the Upper Trishuli hydropower project was supported by a team from South Korea, which joined the efforts to locate and rescue those still missing.

India has also stepped up its relief and rescue assistance to Nepal. It has delivered 68.5 tonnes of relief material and deployed doctors and paramedics, along with technical personnel and specialised search-and-rescue equipment.

Earlier this week, Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah thanked India for its swift response to the disaster. Addressing Parliament, Shah said around 4,000 people were still missing a week after flash floods devastated Rasuwa district.

The latest rescues have provided a fresh boost to ongoing operations, with authorities continuing to search hydropower tunnels and other areas hit hardest by the floods.