A Chinese national was rescued alive from a tunnel at Nepal’s Upper Trishuli 1 Hydropower Project after 11 days of flooding, marking a rare success amid a crisis that left thousands missing. The rescue adds to three survivors pulled from the project’s tunnels.

  • Chinese worker Luhaitao rescued after 11 days
  • Three workers pulled alive from Trishuli projects so far
  • Floods claimed over 1,300 lives, 4,900 remain missing

On August 26, an ice‑rock avalanche along the Nepal‑Tibet border triggered catastrophic floods that devastated northern and central Nepal, killing more than 1,300 people and leaving around 4,900 missing.

In the wake of the disaster, a joint rescue team of the Nepal Army and foreign specialists pulled Chinese national Luhaitao alive from Audit Tunnel 4 of the Upper Trishuli‑1 Hydropower Project after he had been trapped for 11 days. He was found about 225 meters inside the tunnel at Nuwakot district.

Read Also:Nepal Flood Crisis: The Growing Challenge of Disaster Insurance

Earlier, two Nepali workers—Kabir Maharjan and Sanjay Sah—were also rescued from a tunnel at Trishuli 3A. The latest breakthrough brings the total number of survivors from the Trishuli hydropower projects to three, while search efforts continue for the estimated 900 missing workers, many believed to be in tunnels.

The Bhotekoshi River carried floodwaters downstream, wiping out homes, roads, bridges and damaging critical hydropower infrastructure. The disaster has underscored the vulnerability of large engineering projects to extreme weather events.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that rapid, coordinated rescue operations can dramatically improve survival rates in tunnel‑related flood incidents, highlighting the need for advanced safety protocols and international cooperation.

“Immediate medical and psychological support is crucial for workers trapped in such conditions,” notes Dr. Rani Singh, Disaster Management Specialist.
Did You Know?: The Upper Trishuli 1 project is among the world’s largest hydroelectric ventures, harnessing Himalayan river power.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Has Luhaitao sustained any injuries?
He was transported to a hospital for assessment; no severe injuries have been reported yet.

2. Are all missing workers likely to be found?
Search teams continue to locate workers presumed trapped in tunnels, with 500+ still unaccounted for.