Nepal tunnel rescue: Trapped worker says Hare Krishna sustained him for nine days

Two workers were rescued after nine days inside the Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel in Nepal. The breakthrough has revived hopes for others, even as fears persist that more workers remain trapped.Image used for representational purposes onlyTwo workers trapped inside a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project in Nepal were rescued after nine days, with one of them saying he kept chanting the ‘Hare Krishna’ mantra while waiting to be saved. The rescue took place on Friday, which also coincided with Krishna Janmashtami, the Hindu festival marking Krishna’s birth.Sanjay Sah, 30, an employee of the Nepal Electricity Authority from Saptari district of Madhesh province, said he had been chanting the mantra throughout the time he was trapped. Security sources said his condition was stable and that he had no health concerns. He was taken to a local hospital in Trishuli. The other rescued worker, 45-year-old Kabir Maharjan, was airlifted to the Nepal Army Hospital in Chhauni, Kathmandu, for further treatment due to health complications.Sah, a foreman on the project, said he stayed behind as others fled after the disaster because he felt responsible for everyone’s safety. “I was chanting Hare Krishna mahamantra for the past nine days,” he said soon after being brought out safely. He said he had been working in the control room when the accident took place. “I was working in the control room. My responsibility was to save everyone’s life,” Sah said.He said he had urged everyone to run after the accident, but by the time others had left, it was too late for him to escape. Asked how many people might still be inside, Sah said he had heard or communicated with three or four people nearby. “There were only three or four people with whom we were able to communicate, nearby, by talking or making noises,” he said. Sah also said there could be more people trapped deeper inside the tunnel, including around the powerhouse. “Not everyone may have been able to escape. The tunnel is very long,” he said, adding that the force of the floodwater could have carried people further inside. The Nepal Army-led security command has been carrying out search and rescue operations with specialised equipment as the effort continues.The rescue of Sah and Maharjan has provided a breakthrough in the operation at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project, while concerns remain that others may still be trapped inside the long tunnel. With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 4, 2026 14:28 IST