In the heart of Nepal, a miracle unfolded as Sanjay Sah, a 30-year-old hydropower worker, emerged from a decade-long darkness inside a flooded tunnel. For 10 harrowing days, Sah survived on muddy water, losing all sense of time, praying fervently for rescue. When finally pulled to safety on September 4, his disoriented mind struggled to grasp the reality of his ordeal. 'When I was rescued I first asked, how many days has it been?' Sah recounted, tears welling up as he returned home to Saptari district.
Sah was one of hundreds of workers at hydropower projects devastated by a catastrophic flood on August 26, triggered by a glacial mountain collapse on the China-Nepal border. The disaster claimed at least 1,429 lives and left more than 5,640 missing, mostly in Nepal. Despite the grim toll, Sah's survival offered a glimmer of hope. 'I survived because of my deep belief and confidence,' he said, attributing his endurance to Hindu prayers and the support of another trapped worker, Kabir Maharjan.
The flood, unlike anything witnessed before, surged with tsunami-like waves, catching workers off guard despite warnings. 'We did get information to stay alert, that a big flood is coming,' Sah recalled. 'As much as possible, we tried to be alert and evacuate our friends. But the water did not give us much time... we shut down everything, and tried to rescue and evacuate our friends.' Within minutes, the tunnel was overwhelmed by raging waters, leaving Sah stranded and isolated.
Separated from his colleagues, Sah clung to his faith, chanting Hindu prayers to sustain his spirit. With no clean water, he drank whatever muddy liquid he could find. The darkness and isolation were profound, but the knowledge that another survivor, Maharjan, was nearby provided a semblance of connection. 'We were separated but speaking to each other,' Sah said, highlighting the lifeline that human voices can offer in dire circumstances.
After days of excavation and rescue efforts, search teams finally reached the trapped men, bringing them to safety. Sah's wife, Lakshmi Kumari Sah, never lost hope. 'God has helped us, we had our hopes,' she said, holding their daughter. As Sah recuperated in a Kathmandu hospital, his emotions were mixed. 'I am happy, but I feel sad too,' he admitted. 'I was able to get a second life, to survive there. But many of our friends were there.' With ongoing rescue efforts, Sah urged authorities to continue searching, hoping for more survivors or to find the bodies of those who perished.
