In a remarkable rescue operation, two workers were pulled alive from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal on Friday, nine days after catastrophic floods swept through the region. The floods, believed to have been triggered by a glacier collapse, occurred on August 26, leading to widespread devastation across towns and villages.

The two men, identified as a mechanical foreman and a mechanical supervisor, were rescued from the Trishuli 3A tunnel. Their extraction was confirmed by Nepalese lawmaker Shri Ram Neupane shortly after the first worker was brought out, as reported by army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet. Local media captured images of the first worker, who was covered in mud and carried to safety by a rescuer.

Both men are reported to be in stable condition and have been airlifted to a hospital in Kathmandu for further medical attention. The rescue operation continues, with emergency teams working tirelessly to locate other workers who are still unaccounted for. According to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal, at least 557 workers remain missing from the Trishuli 3A hydropower project, with approximately 115 believed to be trapped inside the main tunnel.

Officials at the scene expressed optimism about the possibility of finding additional survivors. Nepal's Communication Minister, Bikram Timilsina, emphasized the hope for further rescues, stating, "We are waiting for the rescue of more and more people."

The floods have had a devastating impact, with the country's disaster management agency reporting at least 1,259 fatalities and over 5,000 individuals still missing. The situation is similarly dire across the border in Tibet, where China has reported 21 deaths and 541 missing.

In total, around 900 workers are unaccounted for across 12 hydropower projects in Nepal, with an estimated 500 trapped in various tunnels. The ongoing rescue efforts are critical as families and communities await news of their loved ones amidst the destruction caused by the floods.