World · India Bureau
Nepal tunnel rescue: 26 workers freed after nine days underground
Twenty-six workers trapped in a partially collapsed tunnel in Nepal have been successfully rescued after spending over a week underground. The workers survived in a pocket of breathable air within the 4.5-kilometre structure, according to rescue officials and monitoring experts.
LSN India ·
The rescue operation concluded after nine days of intensive efforts to extract the workers from the deep sections of the tunnel, which had partially caved in trapping them beneath layers of rock and debris. According to experts overseeing the operation, the workers were sustained by a stable air pocket within the massive underground structure that contained sufficient oxygen for survival during their ordeal.
Rescue teams worked methodically to clear debris and establish safe passage through the tunnel, which is part of a larger infrastructure project in Nepal. The successful extraction of all 26 workers marks a significant achievement for the rescue operation, which faced considerable challenges given the scale of the tunnel and the depth at which the workers were trapped.
The workers were reported to be in relatively stable condition following their emergence, though they underwent medical evaluations and assessment for any injuries or complications resulting from their prolonged confinement. Authorities have launched investigations into the cause of the tunnel collapse and the circumstances that led to the incident.