Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Nepali Foreman Rescued After Nine Days in Hydropower Tunnel
A huge mountain collapse destroyed a valley in Nepal.
The disaster buried parts of several hydropower projects.
Sanjay Sah was inside one tunnel when the collapse happened.
He warned other workers to escape but could not get out himself.
He stayed underground for nine days and tried to keep hope by chanting prayers.
He also stayed in contact with several workers.
Rescuers brought Sah and Kabir Maharjan out alive on Friday.
They were taken to a hospital in Kathmandu.
Many other people are still missing or trapped.
Mechanical foreman Sanjay Sah and supervisor Kabir Maharjan were rescued Friday after nine days underground.
Sah said he stayed behind to help colleagues after warning them to flee.
Officials believe at least 900 people remain trapped in tunnels at six hydropower projects.
The disaster killed at least 1,287 people in Nepal and left 5,083 missing.
Sah and Maharjan were taken to an army hospital in Kathmandu for intensive care.
- Who
- Mechanical foreman Sanjay Sah and mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharjan were rescued; at least 900 others are believed trapped in related tunnels.
- What
- A Nepali rescue operation recovered two hydropower-project workers alive after nine days underground.
- When
- Friday, nine days after the mountain collapse and debris flow.
- Where
- Tunnels connected to hydropower projects along Nepal’s Trishuli River; the survivors were taken to Kathmandu.
- Why
- The workers were trapped after ice, rock and debris destroyed the valley around the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station.
- Rescued workers
- Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan
- Time underground
- Nine days
- Projects affected
- Six hydropower projects along the Trishuli River
- Estimated trapped
- At least 900 people
- Nepal death toll
- At least 1,287 people
- People reported missing
- 5,083 in Nepal
- Current condition
- Sah and Maharjan remained in intensive care at an army hospital in Kathmandu