Nepal search teams rescue two workers from hydropower tunnel - Al Jazeera

**Nepal Search Teams Rescue Two Workers from Hydropower Tunnel**

After more than a week of intensive search operations, Nepalese rescue teams have pulled two workers alive from a flooded hydropower tunnel in the country’s north‑western region. The tunnel, part of a large‑scale hydro‑electric project near the Nepal‑China border, collapsed when unprecedented monsoon rains triggered flash floods on March 1, trapping dozens of laborers inside. Initial reports indicated that the tunnel was inundated and that the interior temperature had dropped sharply, complicating rescue efforts and raising concerns that the remaining workers might not survive.

The breakthrough came on March 9, when a team of specialized divers and mine‑rescue experts, aided by equipment supplied by the Chinese embassy, located the two survivors in a partially air‑filled chamber. Both men were in a weakened but conscious state; one, a 32‑year‑old electrician, recounted that he survived by chanting “Hare Krishna” for nine days, a practice he said helped him stay calm and conserve energy. Their families, who had been receiving sporadic updates, expressed overwhelming relief, with one mother describing the moment she learned of the rescue as “never lost hope.” The rescued workers were immediately transported to the district hospital in Pokhara for medical evaluation and treatment for dehydration and hypothermia.

The operation continues, as rescuers still face the daunting task of reaching an estimated 30 to 40 workers still trapped deep within the tunnel. Authorities have mobilized additional personnel, including the Nepalese Army’s engineering corps and international experts, to drill new access points and pump out water. Prime Minister Pushpa Khadka has ordered a thorough safety audit of all ongoing hydropower projects, emphasizing stricter adherence to flood‑risk assessments and emergency response protocols. The incident has reignited debate over the rapid expansion of Nepal’s renewable energy infrastructure in vulnerable mountainous terrains.