‘Hunchha’: 9 days on, a miracle rescue in Nepal
Two workers were rescued alive from a flooded hydropower tunnel in Nepal after being trapped for nine days. The rescue operation involved the Nepal Army and required complex excavation through debris and mud.
Why it matters
This is a significant humanitarian success story following a major natural disaster, highlighting the challenges of search and rescue in industrial infrastructure.
KATHMANDU: "Hunchha" - yes, we hear you. Just after dawn on Friday, a faint reply became the first voice rescuers had heard from inside the buried Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel since the Aug 26 flood. Nepal army personnel called out, "Brothers, we are a rescue team, we are coming," and heard "Hunchha, hunchha" from the other side. By 9.20am, two workers had been pulled out alive after nine days underground - the first such breakthrough from Nepal's flood-hit hydropower tunnels.The men were identified as mechanical foreman Sanjay Sah, 30, and mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharjan, 45. Sah was stable, while Maharjan was admitted to intensive care. A third person was later found dead inside; officials said the swollen body could not immediately be identified.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in