A 30-year-old worker, Sanjay Sah, survived nine days in the Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and was rescued on Krishna Janmashtami. The rescue offers a rare glimmer of hope amid a broader disaster that still has thousands missing.

  • Sanjay Sah survived nine days chanting Hare Krishna in the tunnel.
  • The rescue occurred on Krishna Janmashtami.
  • The incident provides a rare moment of relief amid a large-scale hydropower disaster.

Sanjay Sah, a 30‑year‑old foreman with the Nepal Electricity Authority, was working in the control room of the Trishuli 3A hydropower project when a flash flood on August 26, triggered by an ice‑rock avalanche, swept through the Trishuli River corridor and trapped workers inside the tunnel.

He explained that he stayed behind to ensure others could escape, telling them to run while he remained. Once trapped, he held onto the hope that people were still nearby, communicating with a few through noises and chanting the Hare Krishna mantra for nine days.

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Rescue teams had earlier detected voices inside the tunnel and established communication with trapped individuals. Nepal’s security forces intensified operations with specialized equipment, eventually pulling Sah and 45‑year‑old mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharjan out—Maharjan was air‑lifted to the Nepal Army Hospital in Chhauni, Kathmandu, while Sah was taken to a hospital in Trishuli, Nuwakot district.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that stories of survival like Sah’s reinforce public resilience, especially when many remain missing in a widespread disaster. It underscores how mental fortitude and faith can be critical survival factors in extreme conditions.

"Sanjay’s story demonstrates that faith and mental resilience can play a pivotal role in surviving catastrophic events," says psychologist Dr. Anil Kumar.
Did You Know?: The Trishuli River has experienced multiple flood events since 2015, affecting over 4,000 lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q1: What caused the flood?
  • A1: A sudden ice‑rock avalanche triggered a flash flood that damaged the tunnel.
  • Q2: How many workers are still missing?
  • A2: Over 600 workers at 11 hydropower projects are missing, with more than 4,700 people still unaccounted for.