Chinese National Rescued Alive From Nepal Tunnel After 10 Days

A Chinese national was rescued alive from a hydropower project tunnel in Nepal after remaining trapped underground for 10 days following devastating floods that caused widespread destruction in the country. The worker, identified as Lu Haitao, was found inside a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project. Rescue teams located him in a section of the tunnel that had been cut off after floodwaters and debris swept through the project area.

A joint rescue operation was launched to reach the trapped worker. After several days of efforts, rescuers managed to locate Lu and bring him out of the damaged tunnel alive. He was subsequently taken for medical evaluation. Reports said Lu was suffering from mild hypothermia but did not appear to have sustained serious injuries. His survival after spending 10 days underground has provided a rare moment of hope amid the devastation caused by the floods.

The disaster struck Nepal on August 26 and severely affected several areas, including hydropower projects and surrounding communities. Floodwaters and debris damaged infrastructure, destroyed homes and left a large number of people dead or missing.

The rescue of Lu came after other people were also found alive following prolonged periods trapped beneath debris. Two hydropower workers, Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan, had earlier been rescued after spending nine days underground. In another rescue operation, a 64-year-old Nepali woman was reportedly pulled alive from the remains of her flooded home around 10 days after the disaster. The rescues have raised hopes among families whose relatives remain unaccounted for following the floods.

Authorities and rescue teams have continued searching damaged areas, particularly hydropower tunnels and other structures where workers may have become trapped. The difficult terrain and extensive destruction have made the operations challenging, with rescuers having to clear debris and navigate damaged underground passages.

The floods have also caused significant disruption to transportation and communications in affected areas. Rescue and relief teams have been working to reach isolated communities and provide assistance to people displaced by the disaster.

Lu’s rescue has drawn attention because of the length of time he survived underground. His condition and the circumstances in which he managed to remain alive are expected to be examined by authorities and medical teams. For rescue workers, the discovery of survivors after several days has strengthened hopes that others could still be found.