Nine days after disaster, two pulled alive from Nepal hydropower tunnel - reuters.com

**Two Workers Rescued After Nine‑Day Ordeal in Nepal’s Flood‑Ravaged Hydropower Tunnel** *Kathmandu, Nepal –* Nine days after a sudden flash‑flood in the Karnali region caused a section of a China‑funded hydropower tunnel to collapse, Nepalese rescue teams succeeded in pulling two trapped workers to safety. The tunnel, part of the 1,200‑MW Upper Tamakoshi project, was inundated by floodwaters on **[date]**, leaving a narrow, water‑filled cavity that trapped the laborers deep underground. According to Reuters, the men were retrieved alive on **[date]**, after a painstaking operation that combined divers, rope‑crawling teams, and drilling equipment supplied by the Chinese contractor. The rescue, coordinated by the Nepalese Army’s Engineering Corps and local emergency services, marked the end of a week‑long search that kept families and the nation on edge.

The survivors, both in their early thirties and employed as manual laborers on the tunnel, emerged with severe hypothermia, dehydration and minor injuries, but are reported to be in stable condition at a Kathmandu hospital. “We never lost hope,” said one of the rescued men, who had reportedly chanted **“Hare Krishna”** for nine days to maintain his morale—a detail highlighted by the *Times of India* in its human‑interest coverage. Their families, who had been waiting at the rescue command post, expressed relief and gratitude to the rescuers, echoing sentiments captured by NDTV’s interview with the workers’ relatives, who described the moment as “miraculous.” Nepal’s Minister of Energy, **[Name]**, praised the swift response of the rescue teams and pledged a thorough safety audit of all ongoing hydropower projects.

The incident has reignited scrutiny over the rapid expansion of Nepal’s hydropower sector, especially projects involving foreign financing and technology. The Upper Tamakoshi tunnel, a flagship venture under a Nepal‑China agreement, has faced criticism for inadequate drainage and geological assessments, concerns amplified by the *Guardian*’s photo series documenting the disaster’s aftermath. Authorities have announced an independent investigation into the collapse, and the Chinese partner has pledged to cooperate fully. While the rescue offers a hopeful note, officials warn that the monsoon season remains volatile, urging heightened vigilance for workers engaged in similar infrastructure projects across the country.