A mechanical foreman, Sanjay Sah, who was trapped for nine days in a tunnel linked to a hydropower station in Nepal, was rescued on Friday (September 4), saying he had urged others to run away but ran out of time to make his own escape.

“When there was such a big accident, it was not right for me to run away,” Sah told a reporter before being taken to hospital. “My responsibility was to save others."

Officials believe at least 900 people are trapped in tunnels related to six hydropower projects along the Trishuli river.

For nine days, Sah sat in the tunnel's darkness, where he chanted mantras (verses from a prayer) to hold onto hope. He managed to stay in contact with three or four other workers somewhere in the tunnel and said others could be trapped deeper into the mountain.

Sah. and fellow survivor Kabir Maharjan, a mechanical supervisor, are the first workers to be rescued from the hydropower projects. A small group had managed to escape from another tunnel hours after the disaster struck.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: NUWAKOT DISTRICT, NEPAL (SEPTEMBER 4, 2026) (NEPALI ARMY - No resales. No archive. Must on-screen courtesy 'Nepali Army'.)

1. ARMY RESCUER SPEAKING TO WORKER RESCUED FROM TUNNEL / (SOUNDBITE) (Nepali) WORKER RESCUED FROM TUNNEL, SANJAY SAH, SAYING:

ARMY RESCUER ASKING: "And approximately how many people do you think are still trapped inside?? /

"I was working as an operator in the control room. At other times, there used to be only four, five, or six people there, but at that time there were around 40 to 45 people. Since I was in the control room, my responsibility was to save everyone’s lives. After such an accident happened, I could not just run away alone. I had to save everyone. While trying to save everyone, I told them all that there had been an accident and that there was a major disaster at the dam. I told everyone to run outside. After such an accident happened, I could not just run away alone. I had to save everyone. While trying to save everyone, I told them all that there had been an accident and that there was a major disaster at the dam. I told everyone to run outside. While doing that, I lost time, and in the end, I could not get out myself. I got trapped inside." /

ARMY RESCUER ASKING: "Yes, yes. Now, how many people do you feel might still be stuck inside? You managed to get everyone else out. There were around 40 to 50 people working there. So, based on what you feel, how many people do you think are still trapped inside?" /

"We have been in contact with some friends, and we have spoken to only three or four people who were nearby. From what they said and from the noise and commotion, it is possible that some people were unable to escape. The tunnel is very long, and even those who were inside the tunnel may have been forced further inside by the force of the water. The tunnel is extremely long." /

ARMY RESCUER ASKING: "Oh, okay. Alright then, take some rest now. You’re okay, right? You’ve already spoken with your mother. Okay, get some rest. And many, many congratulations to you. To think that you managed to come out after being trapped for seven days—you came out on the eighth day. This is truly like getting a second life." /

"What date is today?" /

ARMY RESCUER ASKING: "Today is the 19th (according to a Nepali calendar), right? It has been nine days. You entered on the 10th, correct?" /

"Yes, yes. What is today’s date? The 10th? At 10 o’clock, that event happened. We record the time in the control room." /

ARMY RESCUER SAYING: "Yes, exactly. It really feels like you’ve been given a second life."

"At that time, I was inside, chanting the Mahamrityunjaya mantra." /

ARMY RESCUER SAYING: "Once again, many, many congratulations. So, it seems that chanting the Mahamantra really helped. God saved you. You should teach everyone this Mahamantra as well, okay? Alright, rest now. Please get some rest."