Two trapped hydropower workers rescued from mud-clogged tunnel in Nepal
Source: France 24 ↗ (cross-verified by 4 outlets — full list below)
Rescue teams on Friday freed two hydropower workers who had been trapped for more than a week in a tunnel buried by mud and debris after the catastrophic flood that struck Nepal’s remote Himalayan region on August 26. The men, identified by Home Minister Sudan Gurung as Sanjay Shah, 30, a mechanical foreman, and Kabir Maharjan, 45, a mechanical supervisor, were pulled from the Trishuli‑3A hydropower project tunnel in Rasuwa district and taken to a hospital in Kathmandu. Video released by the energy ministry showed rescuers cheering as one worker was lifted from a muddy opening, while a photograph captured the second, covered in mud and praying, being carried away on an orange stretcher. Their brother, Amir Maharjan, expressed relief, saying his heart felt lighter after the rescue.
The successful extraction comes amid a broader crisis in which officials estimate that hundreds of workers remain trapped in tunnels linked to hydropower projects throughout the region. The flood, triggered by a massive wave generated by a rock and ice avalanche along the China‑Nepal border, has already claimed more than 1,250 lives and left over 5,000 people missing. Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha confirmed that the two rescued workers were the first confirmed survivors from the Trishuli‑3A tunnel, adding that earlier estimates suggested more than 100 workers might still be alive inside multiple collapsed tunnels. Searches continue at Trishuli‑3A and other sites, with teams digging through 50‑60 metres of debris in hopes of reaching any remaining survivors.
International expertise is being brought to bear on the operation. Australian rescue specialist Arnold Dix, president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, has been advising the effort remotely and is traveling to Nepal to assist on the ground. Dix reported that rescuers had heard a faint response—“hunchha,” meaning “yes” or “OK”—from inside the tunnel, prompting renewed optimism. He described his outlook as “three‑quarters full,” noting that after a week of relentless searching, the rescue of Shah and Maharjan may signal a turning point in what has become a massive, high‑stakes effort to locate and save the many workers still missing.
⚡ Effects Interpreter
🌍World Economylow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Global commerce usually shrugs off small shocks, but keeps one eye open.
- ▶Export-heavy economies could see demand wobble as buyers wait and watch.
🏙️Local Economylow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Recruitment agencies locally may notice a shift in demand soon.
- ▶Career changers eyeing this field might want to watch closely.
🏦Rates & Banksmedium impact
What this means for you
- ▶Rate-setters usually take their time digesting news like this.
- ▶Banks generally prefer a wait-and-see approach before touching their rates.
❤️Healthmedium impact
What this means for you
- ▶The strain, if any, tends to show up quietly in everyday life.
- ▶A little perspective usually helps once the initial shock fades.
💷Wealthmedium impact
What this means for you
- ▶Uncertain work often means postponing big financial decisions for a while.
- ▶Pension contributions can take a knock when work is uncertain.
🏠Housingmedium impact
What this means for you
- ▶Home costs usually respond further down the line, once the bigger picture settles.
- ▶The property ladder rarely wobbles much from a single piece of news.
🌍 Effects for your country
The U.S.'s central bank rate currently stands at 3.75%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The U.S.'s economy is growing at 2.3% with inflation at 3.2%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the U.S.'s own central bank rate closely. With the U.S.'s unemployment at 4.4%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the U.S. depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
The UK's central bank rate currently stands at 3.75%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The UK's economy is growing at 0.8% with inflation at 3.2%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the UK's own central bank rate closely. With the UK's unemployment at 5.6%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the UK depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
France's central bank rate currently stands at 2%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. France's economy is growing at 0.9% with inflation at 1.8%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track France's own central bank rate closely. With France's unemployment at 7.9%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is already under strain. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in France depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
Romania's central bank rate currently stands at 6.5%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. Romania's economy is growing at 0.7% with inflation at 7.8%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track Romania's own central bank rate closely. With Romania's unemployment at 6%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in Romania depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
The UAE's central bank rate currently stands at 3.65%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The UAE's economy is growing at 3.1% with inflation at 2.5%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the UAE's own central bank rate closely. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the UAE depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.