Nepal Flood Survivor Recalls 10-Day Tunnel Ordeal as Rescue Efforts Continue
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Sanjay Sah, a 30-year-old Nepali hydropower worker, survived an extraordinary 10-day ordeal trapped in a flooded tunnel after a catastrophic glacial mountain collapse triggered devastating floods along the China-Nepal border on August 26. Rescued on September 4, Sah described how he lost all sense of time while surviving on muddy water and mountain seepage, unable to eat but sustained by reciting Hindu prayers. The disaster has claimed at least 1,429 lives with more than 5,640 people still missing .
Key Points
- Sanjay Sah, aged 30, was working at the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station when tsunami-like flood waves struck with stunning speed
- He survived by drinking floodwater and water seeping from mountain rocks, keeping his eyes closed to avoid injuries from debris
- Sah recited the Hindu "Maha Mantra" to maintain mental strength, saying he felt peaceful rather than fearful
- Workers received flood warnings but had insufficient time to evacuate before the tunnel was engulfed within minutes
- His family in Saptari district welcomed him with garlands, a cake, balloons, and an auspicious foot-washing ceremony
- Sah has a 26-year-old wife and a 2-year-old daughter, whom he kept in mind during the ordeal
Why It Matters
The disaster has devastated Nepal's hydropower sector with hundreds of workers killed or missing at multiple projects , highlighting the increasing vulnerability of Himalayan infrastructure to climate-driven glacial instability. Sah's survival offers a rare moment of hope amid the grief, though officials warn the death toll could rise substantially as rescue operations continue across the affected region .
The disaster has devastated Nepal's hydropower sector with hundreds of workers killed or missing at multiple projects , highlighting the increasing vulnerability of Himalayan infrastructure to climate-driven glacial instability. Sah's survival offers a rare moment of hope amid the grief, though officials warn the death toll could rise substantially as rescue operations continue across the affected region .