Two individuals have been rescued alive from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal, authorities confirmed Friday, days after a devastating flash flood struck the Nepal-Tibet border region.
The two workers, identified as Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan, were pulled from the Trishuli 3A construction site tunnel. Nepal's Army posted videos and images from the rescue operation on Facebook. Nepalese lawmaker Shri Ram Neupane, who has been involved in the search efforts, also shared updates and media from the scene.
Rescuers had previously reported hearing voices from within the tunnel. Neupane stated in a social media post that a response of "yes" was received when the rescue team called out to those trapped, assuring them that help was on the way.
The flash flood, which occurred last week, has resulted in a significant loss of life. As of Thursday, Nepal's National Disaster Management Authority reported 1,252 deaths and an additional 4,216 people missing within Nepal. These figures represent an increase from the previous day's toll.
Chinese state media have reported 16 deaths and 546 missing in Tibet. Combined, the disaster has claimed at least 1,268 lives and left 4,762 people missing on both sides of the border.
Relief and rescue operations are ongoing. Nearly all communication towers have been restored, and approximately 12,000 people have been rescued with the help of international and domestic aid. More than 21,500 security personnel have been mobilized to accelerate search and rescue efforts, and over 5,000 individuals are receiving treatment for injuries.
Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, indicated earlier in the week that the government would begin shifting its focus to rehabilitation efforts as the time elapsed since the disaster increases.