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How two men survived nine days in a Nepal flood tunnel
Reuters • • world
Key Points:
- Kabir Maharjan survived nine days trapped in an air pocket inside a tunnel after a glacier collapse caused Nepal's deadliest flood disaster, which killed over 1,300 people and buried hydropower projects.
- Maharjan and mechanical foreman Sanjay Sah sheltered in a cable-duct tunnel about 160 meters from the exit, surviving on muddy water and prayers while rescuers struggled to reach them through debris and flooding.
- Rescue efforts involved drilling, controlled blasting, and heavy machinery to clear tunnels blocked by up to 30 meters of landslide material, with crews finally locating survivors after 10 days.
- Maharjan was rescued in critical condition and initially did not recognize his wife; his survival has raised hope that more trapped workers in the region might still be alive.
- The disaster highlighted gaps in emergency preparedness, including workers' lack of knowledge about an escape ladder that could have saved many lives during the flood.
