Nepal rescuers pull workers from tunnel

Two hydropower workers have been pulled alive from a tunnel in Nepal, nine days after catastrophic floods swept through the Himalayan nation. Sanjay Shah, a mechanical foreman, and Kabir Maharjan, a mechanical supervisor, were trapped inside the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station. Their rescue offers a glimmer of hope amidst a disaster that has claimed over one thousand two hundred lives and left more than five thousand six hundred others missing. The devastating floods were triggered by a believed glacier collapse, unleashing a torrent of ice, rock, and mud. This debris overwhelmed several hydropower projects along the Trishuli River, burying tunnels. Rescuers located the men after hearing faint voices from deep within the mud-filled tunnel. Sanjay Shah reportedly stayed behind to assist colleagues in escaping the initial floodwaters. Both survivors were airlifted to a Kathmandu hospital, reported to be in stable condition. The rescue involved drilling and clearing debris. Search teams remain on site, continuing efforts as more individuals may still be alive deeper inside the tunnels. Authorities estimate around nine hundred workers were initially trapped across six hydropower projects. While over two hundred seventy people have been rescued, the scale of devastation underscores immense challenges. The focus remains on reaching potential survivors and aiding thousands displaced. The international community is assisting Nepal as it grapples with one of its most severe natural disasters.