Rescue teams in Nepal have pulled two workers alive from a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project, nine days after devastating flash floods struck the region, offering a major breakthrough in the search for people trapped underground.

The two workers were identified as Sanjay Sah, a mechanical foreman, and Kabir Maharjan, a mechanical supervisor. They were rescued from a section of the tunnel about 170 metres underground, according to officials. Both were taken for medical treatment, with Maharjan flown to Kathmandu while Sah was being treated at a hospital in Trishuli.

Voices Heard Inside Tunnel

The rescue operation intensified earlier Friday after rescuers reported hearing voices from inside the tunnel.

Nepali Army and Armed Police Force personnel entered the tunnel and stepped up efforts to locate the people believed to be trapped inside. Engineer and lawmaker Shri Ram Neupane, who has been involved in the rescue operation, said rescuers received a response after calling out to those inside.

The discovery of survivors came after days of difficult operations as rescue teams worked through mud, rocks and debris blocking access to the underground passages.

Nine Days After Flash Floods

The workers had been trapped since the devastating Bhotekoshi flash floods of August 26.

The disaster caused extensive destruction across parts of Nepal's Himalayan region, damaging settlements, roads and hydropower infrastructure. Rescue operations at affected hydropower projects have been particularly challenging because floodwaters and debris blocked tunnel entrances and underground passages.

The Trishuli 3A facility became a major focus of rescue efforts as authorities worked to determine whether workers could have survived in air pockets inside the tunnels.

More Workers May Still Be Trapped

The rescue of Sah and Maharjan has raised hopes that other workers could still be alive underground.

Authorities have reported that hundreds of workers remain unaccounted for across hydropower projects affected by the disaster. Reports indicate that around 900 workers are missing from 12 hydropower projects, with roughly 500 believed to be trapped inside tunnels.

At Trishuli 3A itself, rescue teams are continuing searches for additional workers who may remain inside the facility.

Rescue Teams Continue Operation

Nepali security forces and specialist rescue teams have been working around the clock to clear the tunnel and reach potentially trapped workers.

The operation has involved heavy machinery and other equipment to remove accumulated mud and large rocks. However, unstable conditions and blocked access have made the rescue effort slow and technically difficult.

The successful recovery of two workers provides rescuers with fresh hope as they continue examining other sections of the tunnel.

Disaster Caused Widespread Destruction

The flash floods followed a major surge of water, mud and debris through the Trishuli River valley on August 26. The disaster devastated several areas of Nepal and also affected communities and infrastructure near the Nepal-China border.

The catastrophe has killed more than 1,200 people in Nepal and left thousands missing, according to the latest reports. The scale of the destruction has also prompted international assistance for rescue and relief operations.

Hope for Further Survivors

The survival of two workers after nine days underground has become a significant moment in Nepal's ongoing disaster response.

Rescue teams are now continuing the search with renewed urgency, hoping to locate others who may have survived inside the network of hydropower tunnels.

For families waiting for news about missing workers, the rescue of Sah and Maharjan has provided a rare positive development following days of uncertainty.