A Ray of Hope Amid Tragedy
On Friday, September 4, 2026, Nepal celebrated a true miracle. Sanjay Sah, 30, and Kabir Maharjan, 45, were rescued alive after being trapped for nine days inside the tunnel of the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric plant, located in the Himalayan region, on the border with Tibet (China).
The disaster struck on August 26, when a flash flood triggered by a glacial collapse swept through the area, leaving a devastating toll: 1,308 dead (1,287 in Nepal and 21 in China) and 5,624 missing (5,083 in Nepal and 541 in China). More than 800 foreigners from at least 34 countries remain unaccounted for.
The rescue of Sah and Maharjan became a symbol of resilience and faith, occurring during Krishna Janmashtami, a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna.
The Heroic Testimony of Sanjay Sah
Sanjay Sah, a mechanical foreman, recounted from the hospital that he stayed in the control room to alert his colleagues (between 40 and 45 people) and lost his chance to escape. “My responsibility was to save others,” he said. During his captivity, he survived by reciting the maha mantra Hare Krishna, a prayer from the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism, linked to the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON, founded in 1966).
The worker claimed to have maintained contact by shouting with 3 or 4 other people who might still be trapped inside, renewing hopes of finding more survivors.
Both rescued men had injuries to their hands and legs, and one was in critical condition. They were airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Kathmandu, where they are receiving specialized care.
An Extreme Rescue Operation
The rescue was the result of a coordinated effort between the Nepalese Army, the Armed Police Force, and experts from India, China, and South Korea. The team, advised by Arnold Dix, president of the International Tunnelling Association (ITA), had to overcome enormous challenges:
- Locating the tunnel entrance, completely buried under debris.
- Excavating about 60 meters of debris to open a passage.
- Using controlled explosions to break through.
- Draining the water accumulated inside.
Rescuers heard voices and established brief communication (“okay”) from inside, guiding the search. Finally, they found them about 170 meters from the tunnel entrance, in a narrow passage dug into the upper part of the debris.
Arnold Dix had previously participated in the rescue of 41 Indian workers trapped in a tunnel in 2023, bringing key experience to this operation.
The Magnitude of the Tragedy
The disaster left a trail of unprecedented destruction. It is estimated that more than 900 workers from hydroelectric projects are missing, and around 500 could be trapped in tunnels. In the Trishuli 3A tunnel, it is calculated that 115 people might still be inside.
Infrastructure damage amounts to at least 2.5 billion dollars, according to preliminary estimates. Expert Anil Pokhrel noted that the floods exposed weaknesses in Nepal’s rescue capacity, such as a lack of heavy machinery and trained personnel.
Nepal’s Energy Minister, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, expressed the general sentiment: “As long as there is breath, there is hope!”
The Science Behind Survival
Sah’s story of surviving by reciting mantras is not just a testimony of faith. The repetition of mantras can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing heart rate and the activity of the brain’s Default Mode Network, associated with anxiety. A 2022 study found reductions in anxiety, stress, and depression. Rhythmic recitation can bring breathing to about 6 cycles per minute, helping maintain calm in extreme situations.
This case joins other tunnel survival miracles, such as the rescue of 41 workers in India in 2023, proving that hope and human determination can overcome even the most extreme adversity.