Ten days in pitch darkness, breathing stale air and drinking thick, muddy water. That was the reality for Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan, two hydropower workers who defied astronomical odds to survive a catastrophic flash flood in Nepal.
When a massive glacial and rock collapse triggered a wall of icy water and debris on August 26, it ripped through valleys and inundated tunnels across multiple hydropower stations. More than 1,400 people lost their lives in the disaster, and thousands more went missing. Yet, deep inside the Upper Trishuli 3A project tunnel, Sah and Maharjan stayed alive against every expectation. Learn more on a connected issue: this related article.
The Disaster That Struck Without Warning
You can't fully grasp how fast a glacial collapse moves until you look at the destruction it leaves behind. Tsunami-like waves tore through river systems, completely overwhelming infrastructure in a matter of minutes.
Sah was working in a control room when the alarm sounded. Instead of fleeing immediately, he stayed behind to shut down equipment and warn his colleagues. That split-second choice changed everything. More analysis by The New York Times explores similar views on this issue.
"We did get information to stay alert," Sah recalled in interviews after his rescue. "As much as possible, we tried to be alert and evacuate our friends. But the water did not give us much time."
Within moments, the tunnel system flooded completely, trapping workers in a labyrinth of underground chambers and blocking exit routes with tons of mud and debris.
Inside the Underground Labyrinth
Survival underground isn't just about avoiding drowning; it's a brutal psychological battle against isolation and fear.
With no clean water, Sah and Maharjan survived by drinking muddy water pooled inside the chambers. While they were separated in different sections of the network, they could occasionally hear each other's voices echoing through the dark. That human connection served as a vital anchor.
Sah later shared that reciting traditional mantras kept him grounded. He didn't panic. Instead, he conserved his energy and focused entirely on staying alive.
The Miraculous Rescue Operation
Nine days passed before search and rescue teams heard faint voices echoing from deep within the buried tunnel.
Rescuers from the Nepali army, alongside international specialists, raced against the clock as structural damage and dangerous geography complicated every movement. When crews finally broke through the blockage on September 4, they pulled the two men out to waiting stretchers.
Television footage showed Sah being carried out with his face still caked in mud, while his first words to rescuers revealed profound disorientation: "How many days has it been?"
Both men were immediately airlifted to an army hospital in Kathmandu for intensive care. While Maharjan faced severe physical strain, Sah's injuries were not critical, and he was eventually reunited with his overjoyed family.
What Comes Next for Nepal
The incredible rescue of these two men offered a rare moment of joy in a national tragedy, but the crisis is far from over. Hundreds of workers remain missing across various hydropower sites, and families are demanding that search efforts continue unabated.
Engineers and disaster experts are now forced to rethink how remote mountain infrastructure is monitored and evacuated when climate-driven glacial collapses occur with virtually zero warning.
Don't expect quick answers. Rebuilding the affected communities and securing these high-risk mountain tunnels will take years of coordinated effort and heavy investment.
Two rescued from hydropower tunnel 9 days after Nepal floods
This video provides footage and live reporting from the scene shortly after the historic rescue of the two trapped workers in Nepal.
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