Miraculous Rescue: Nepali Hydropower Worker Recounts Nine-Day Survival in Pitch-Black Flooded Tunnel

In an extraordinary testament to human endurance, a 30-year-old Nepali foreman has shared the harrowing details of how he survived nine days trapped inside a flooded hydropower tunnel. Relying on sheer willpower and survival instincts in total darkness, the worker persevered until rescue teams miraculously pulled him alive from the subterranean ruins.

Sanjay Sah was on duty inside the sprawling complex of the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project in Nepal's northern Rasuwa district when sudden, catastrophic flash floods and mudslides swept down the river basin. The violent torrent breached the facility, sealing off egress routes and leaving the mechanical specialist stranded in absolute darkness where every single movement presented severe physical danger.

Deprived of light and disoriented within the underground corridors, Sah made the conscious decision to keep his eyes closed for days on end. The protective choice was driven by the intense fear that blindly navigating the pitch-black space would cause him to trip, stumble, or strike his face against submerged machinery and sharp debris.

Speaking following his release from medical care, Sah recounted that there was nothing to see in the subterranean void, making closed eyelids his primary defense against blinding himself on hazards. He noted that keeping his eyes tightly shut for such an extended period caused significant strain, leaving him barely able to open them when emergency crews finally brought him into the light.

The catastrophic flooding that overwhelmed the power facility was set off in late August by the collapse of a Himalayan glacier. The resulting deluge sent massive quantities of water, boulders, and silt cascading down mountain valleys, tearing through settlements and vital infrastructure across both Nepal and China's Tibet region.

The scale of devastation following the glacial collapse has been immense. Official casualty reports indicate that at least 1,300 people have been confirmed dead, while more than 5,300 individuals remain unaccounted for across the impacted territories, underscoring the severity of the trans-Himalayan disaster.

Sah had spent over three years working as a mechanical foreman at the Upper Trishuli 3A plant, a run-of-river electricity generation facility operated by the state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority. The multi-tiered engineering installation was heavily impacted when the swollen Bhotekoshi River overflowed, channeling dense mud and floodwaters directly into the project's working tunnels.

Trapped underground, Sah and a fellow worker were forced to endure days of sensory deprivation, severe cold, and physical confinement. With safe water and stable footing severely limited, the two men had to manage their physical stamina and morale as the days passed without immediate signs of relief.

Upon learning that workers were trapped inside the damaged hydropower structure, a specialized search and rescue contingent, including personnel from the Nepal Army, mobilized to mount an emergency extraction effort. Rescuers were forced to navigate treacherous mud, debris, and unstable structural conditions to reach the compromised subterranean chambers.

The intensive rescue operation culminated in success on September 4, 2026, when teams breached the blocked passages and located Sah and his coworker alive. Rescuers carefully evacuated Sah from the depths of the tunnel, providing immediate first aid after an agonizing nine-day ordeal that had left his family fearing the worst.

Following the successful extraction, Sah was transported directly to an army hospital in Kathmandu to receive specialized treatment for exhaustion, prolonged darkness exposure, and physical injuries. Medical staff treated several wounds, including trauma to his hand that required extensive bandaging during his inpatient care.

On Friday, September 11, Sah was formally discharged from the military medical facility. He was escorted to his sister’s rented apartment in Kathmandu, where he is now resting and beginning the gradual process of physical and psychological recovery alongside his loved ones.

The discharge marked an emotional homecoming as Sah reunited with his wife, Laxmi Sha, and his young daughter, Sundira Sah. Family members gathered at the residence to embrace the survivor, expressing immense gratitude and capturing photographs together to celebrate a reunion they once feared would never come.

The incident highlights the growing risks confronting critical energy assets in high-altitude mountain regions. As climate-driven glacial hazards and sudden flood events increasingly threaten steep river valleys, experts note the urgent necessity for enhanced early-warning networks, reinforced infrastructure, and robust emergency protocols for industrial facilities operating in disaster-prone zones.

For Sah, the long road back from the depths of the Bhotekoshi gorge to the warmth of his family represents a rare outcome of survival amid immense tragedy. While rescue workers continue their broader efforts across the disaster zone, his emergence from the dark tunnel stands as a powerful symbol of resilience amid regional grief.