KATHMANDU: Two workers have been rescued alive from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal nine days after deadly flash floods swept through the region, offering a rare moment of hope after a devastating natural disaster.

The two men, identified as mechanical foreman Sanjay Sah and mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharjan, were pulled from the Trishuli 3A hydropower project on Friday after rescue teams heard voices coming from deep inside the tunnel.

The workers had been trapped since August 26, when a massive surge of water, mud, rocks and debris struck the hydropower facility following a glacier-related collapse in the upper Trishuli River area.

Two Workers Rescued Alive From Nepal Tunnel After Nine Days

The rescue of the two workers from the Nepal tunnel came after emergency teams spent days clearing thick mud and heavy debris blocking access to the underground structures.

Sah, 30, was working at the project when the disaster struck, while Maharjan, 45, had travelled to the facility for scheduled maintenance work. Both became trapped underground as floodwaters rushed through the complex.

Rescuers eventually located the men around 170 metres inside the tunnel. Images broadcast by local television showed the first survivor covered in mud and being carried out on a rescuer’s shoulder.

Officials said the two men received initial medical treatment before being transported to Kathmandu. Reports said Sah was in stable condition, while Maharjan required more intensive medical attention.

Nepal Tunnel Rescue Raises Hopes for More Survivors

The dramatic rescue has renewed hopes that other workers could still be alive inside Nepal’s damaged hydropower tunnels.

Rescue teams heard faint voices from inside the tunnel early Friday, providing a crucial indication that survivors remained underground. Officials believe air pockets inside some tunnel sections may have allowed trapped workers to survive for more than a week.

At the Trishuli 3A project alone, hundreds of workers are reported missing, with around 115 believed to remain trapped in the main tunnel, according to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal.

Across 12 hydropower projects, local authorities estimate that about 900 workers are missing, with roughly 500 believed to be trapped inside tunnels.

Nepal’s Army, police, armed police and technical specialists have been working around the clock to clear mud, rocks and other obstacles. International rescue experts have also been assisting the operation.

Deadly Nepal Flash Floods Leave Thousands Missing

The Nepal flash floods began on August 26 after a massive glacier-related event sent torrents of water, mud and debris through communities and hydropower facilities along the Trishuli River.

The disaster has killed more than 1,250 people in Nepal, while more than 5,000 remain missing, according to the latest reports. Tens of thousands of people have also been displaced.

The catastrophe severely damaged infrastructure and hydropower projects, making rescue operations particularly difficult. In neighbouring Tibet, Chinese authorities have reported dozens of deaths and hundreds of people missing following the same wider disaster.

The successful rescue of Sah and Maharjan has nevertheless given families waiting for news a renewed sense of hope.

Officials have said search operations will continue as rescuers work to reach other potentially survivable areas of the tunnel network.

For the families of those still missing, the two workers rescued alive from the Nepal tunnel have provided an important reminder that survival may still be possible even after days underground.