Nepal flood rescue: Two men pulled alive from Upper Trishuli 3A tunnel
Synopsis
After ten days trapped inside a flood-damaged tunnel in Nepal, two hydropower workers — a foreman from Saptari and a supervisor — were pulled out alive by the Nepal Army and Armed Police Force. With 945 workers still missing across 11 flood-hit projects and a national death toll of 1,259, the rescue is a rare moment of relief in one of Nepal's worst recent flood disasters.
Key Takeaways
Sanjaya Sah, 30 , and Kabir Maharjan, 45 , were rescued alive from the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project tunnel on 4 September after ten days.
The rescue was carried out by a joint team of the Nepal Army and Armed Police Force .
Nepal's floods have claimed 1,259 lives , with 5,053 people out of contact as of Thursday evening, per the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority .
945 workers across 11 hydropower projects remain out of contact, according to the Independent Power Producers' Association .
The rescue has revived hope that others trapped in tunnels at flood-affected hydropower sites may also be found alive.
Two workers trapped inside the flood-damaged tunnel of Nepal's Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project were rescued alive on Friday morning, 4 September, by a joint team of the Nepal Army and the Armed Police Force, bringing relief to families who had endured ten days of agonising uncertainty. The rescue has renewed hope for dozens of others believed to be trapped in tunnels across multiple flood-hit hydropower sites across the country.
Who Was Rescued
Sanjaya Sah, 30, a foreman from the southern district of Saptari, and Kabir Maharjan, 45, a supervisor in the Hydropower Automation section of the project, were pulled out from deep inside the tunnel after sustained rescue efforts. Both men had been unreachable since deadly floods struck the region last week, damaging critical infrastructure at the project site.
Family's Relief
Laxmi Kumari Sah, wife of Sanjaya Sah, described the moment she learned of her husband's rescue. 'I am very happy about the rescue of my husband, and it has brought happiness to all my family members,' she said. 'I was at home when I heard about his rescue at around 8:30 a.m. It has brought immense joy to our family.' She added that she was travelling to Kathmandu to meet her husband, and that the preceding ten days had been deeply painful for the entire family.
Scale of the Disaster
The floods, which struck Nepal last week, have been among the deadliest in recent memory. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the disaster had claimed 1,259 lives as of Thursday evening, with 5,053 people still out of contact. The toll underscores the catastrophic scale of the flooding across the country.
The Independent Power Producers' Association, representing private-sector power developers, said on Thursday evening that 945 workers across 11 hydropower projects affected by the floods remained out of contact — a figure that highlights the disproportionate impact on Nepal's energy infrastructure workforce.
Army Statement and Rescue Operations
'After 10 days of darkness, life has seen the light again. Two people have been rescued alive from inside the hydropower project tunnel at Trishuli-3A,' the Nepal Army said in a social media post. 'The rescue operation is underway.' The statement signalled that efforts to reach others still believed to be trapped inside tunnels at additional flood-affected hydropower projects would continue.
What Comes Next
The successful recovery of Sah and Maharjan alive — after ten days underground — has given rescue teams and anxious families renewed confidence that others may yet survive. Authorities have not confirmed how many workers remain unaccounted for at the Upper Trishuli 3A site specifically, but operations are continuing. The broader humanitarian and infrastructure toll of the floods is expected to take weeks to fully assess.
Point of View
Nepal's energy infrastructure has taken a systemic hit that will outlast the immediate humanitarian emergency. The concentration of casualties in hydropower tunnels raises hard questions about emergency preparedness and evacuation protocols at remote project sites, where workers can be cut off within hours of a flood event. As Nepal rebuilds, those questions deserve answers before the next monsoon season.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was rescued from the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project tunnel?
Sanjaya Sah, 30 , a foreman from Saptari, and Kabir Maharjan, 45 , a supervisor in the Hydropower Automation section, were rescued alive on 4 September after being trapped for ten days following last week's floods.
How many people have died in the Nepal floods?
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority , the floods had claimed 1,259 lives as of Thursday evening, with a further 5,053 people still out of contact.
How many hydropower workers are still missing in Nepal?
The Independent Power Producers' Association said on Thursday that 945 workers across 11 hydropower projects affected by the floods remained out of contact.
Who carried out the rescue operation at Trishuli-3A?
A joint team of the Nepal Army and the Armed Police Force conducted the rescue operation, pulling both men from deep inside the damaged tunnel after sustained efforts over ten days.
What does the rescue mean for others still trapped?
Authorities and rescue teams say the successful recovery of two men alive after ten days has renewed hope that workers believed to be trapped in tunnels at other flood-affected hydropower projects could also be found alive. Operations are continuing.
