Two workers rescued from Nepal tunnel nine days after floods

A Nepali member of parliament has stated that there is a possibility of more survivors being found in the Trishuli 3A hydropower project tunnel, where two men were recently rescued.

Meanwhile, reports indicate the disaster has also had a severe impact in neighbouring Tibet, where 21 people have been killed and 541 remain missing due to the floods.

An informal group of engineers on the messaging platform WhatsApp is playing a crucial role in guiding rescue operations in Nepal, following catastrophic flash floods more than a week ago.

The group, which was set up before the disaster and now includes over 500 experts, is being used to share technical drawings and information to help locate survivors believed to be trapped in the tunnels of at least six devastated hydropower plants. This coordination effort contributed to the successful rescue of two men on Friday.

According to reports, authorities are focusing on several sites, including the Chilime and Rasuwagadhi hydropower plants, where dozens of workers may still be trapped.

Two hydropower workers were rescued on Friday from a tunnel where they had been trapped for more than a week following catastrophic flash floods in Nepal.

The men, identified as mechanical foreman Sanjay Shah, 30, and mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharjan, 45, were pulled from the Trishuli 3A hydropower project tunnel. Home Minister Sudan Gurung and Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha confirmed the successful rescue.

Hundreds of other workers remain missing since a wall of mud and debris swept through the region on August 26. Searches are continuing at multiple sites.

The rescue came after teams reported hearing a faint response from inside the tunnel. Australian rescue expert Arnold Dix, who is advising the operation, said he was en route to Nepal to support the teams on the ground.

Property, housing, and infrastructure damage from last week's catastrophic floods in Nepal is estimated at a minimum of $2.56 billion (387.5 billion Nepalese rupees), the country's disaster authority chief told Reuters on Friday.

Dharma Raj Upreti, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, also stated that the estimated cost for early recovery over the first four months would be approximately $52.6 million (7.95 billion Nepalese rupees). This initial phase will focus on rebuilding roads, providing temporary shelters, and restoring drinking water and electricity supplies.

New details are emerging about the cause and scale of the catastrophic glacier collapse on the Nepal-Tibet border. Satellite analysis indicates that a portion of a glacier broke off from a high altitude, triggering a massive ice-rock avalanche and debris flow. Officials now estimate that more than 90,000 people have been affected by the ensuing disaster.