Miraculous Rescue: Man Trapped for Nine Days in Nepal's Hydropower Tunnel Celebrates Krishna Janmashtami
A Remarkable Survival Story
Kathmandu: A man rescued from a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project in Nepal after being trapped for nine days shared that he repeatedly chanted the 'Hare Krishna' mantra during his ordeal, hoping for salvation.
Remarkably, his rescue coincided with Krishna Janmashtami, a significant Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna.
Sanjay Sah, a 30-year-old worker from Saptari district employed by the Nepal Electricity Authority, was one of two individuals saved.
Upon his rescue, he recounted to the security team that he had been chanting the 'Hare Krishna' mantra throughout his confinement.
"I was reciting the Hare Krishna mahamantra for the last nine days," he stated shortly after being brought to safety.
Reports from security personnel indicate that Sah's health is stable, and he was promptly taken to a local hospital in Trishuli.
Kabir Maharjan, aged 45, who was also rescued, required additional medical attention and was airlifted to the Nepal Army Hospital in Chhauni, Kathmandu.
Sah, who serves as a foreman on the project, explained that he chose to remain behind when others evacuated after the incident, feeling a sense of duty for the safety of his colleagues.
He was in the control room at the time of the accident.
"I was in the control room. My duty was to ensure everyone's safety," Sah remarked.
He urged his coworkers to flee after the disaster struck, but by the time they left, it was too late for him to escape.
When asked about the possibility of others still being trapped, he mentioned that he had communicated with three or four individuals nearby through conversation and noise.
"We were able to talk or make sounds to three or four people close by," he noted.
Sah also expressed concern that more individuals might be trapped deeper within the tunnel, particularly around the powerhouse area, stating, "Not everyone may have managed to escape. The tunnel is extensive," and added that the floodwaters could have swept people further inside.
The Nepal Army-led security team is actively conducting search and rescue operations with specialized equipment.