00:18A rescue that many feared would never happen has now brought a fresh wave of hope and flood-hit
00:24Nepal. Two workers have been pulled out alive after spending nine days trapped deep inside
00:32a hydropower tunnel. And what makes their survival remarkable is where they were found. They
00:38were rescued from around 170 meters underground after massive floods, mud and debris sealed
00:45parts of the tunnel. This is the Trishuli Free A hydropower tunnel, part of a huge 4.5-kilometer
00:53long underground structure. After the deadly glacial and mountain collapse and subsequent
00:58flooding, several workers were feared trapped inside. For nine days, rescuers battled through
01:05tons of mud, boulders and water to reach them. Then came the breakthrough. According to officials
01:13and experts monitoring the operation, rescuers detected signs that someone could still be
01:18alive inside. A faint response was reportedly heard from deep within the tunnel. The message
01:25was believed to be a simple word in Nepali, meaning yes or okay. Rescuers then called back
01:31into the darkness, telling the workers not to worry because they were coming to rescue them.
01:36And eventually, they reached them. Video released by the Nepal army shows rescuers entering the
01:43narrow underground space and finding the two men. They were placed onto a makeshift stretcher and
01:49carefully carried out. The first man rescued was Senjay Shah, a 30-year-old foreman. Officials said he was in
01:57stable condition. The second, mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharajan, was taken into intensive care.
02:04But the biggest question remains, how did they survive for nine days? Experts believe a stable air pocket deep
02:12inside the tunnel may have provided breathable oxygen. There was also trapped water inside the
02:18underground section. As floodwaters rushed through the tunnel, the workers are believed to have moved
02:24upward, escaping rising water, rocks, sediment and mud. They eventually sheltered in a chamber that may
02:31have protected them from drowning or being directly hit by the debris. The tunnel reportedly lost emergency
02:38power early in the disaster. That meant the men were left in darkness, damp conditions and extreme
02:45uncertainty. They likely survived by finding whatever food and water was available and conserving their
02:51physical energy. Meanwhile, rescuers worked from the outside. They cleared debris with heavy machinery while
02:58also pushing pipes into the tunnel to supply clean air and prevent dangerous gases from building up.
03:04And now, the rescue of these two men has changed the entire operation. At least 35 more workers are
03:13believed to be trapped in this specific tunnel. Their survival has given families and rescuers renewed hope.
03:20The search is continuing, not only here, but across multiple hydropower sites damaged by the floods.
03:27At least 12 hydropower projects have reportedly been hit.
03:31For nine days, the tunnel offered almost no certainty. Now, two survivors have emerged from the darkness.
03:40And for the teams still searching, that may be the most important sign of all.
03:45For the teams still searching, that may be the most important sign of all.
03:52For the teams still searching, that may be the most important sign of all.
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