In a remarkable rescue operation that has brought fresh hope to families waiting for missing relatives, a Chinese national has been rescued alive after spending 10 days trapped inside a hydropower tunnel following Nepal’s devastating Bhotekoshi flood.
The man, identified as Luhaitao, was found approximately 225 metres inside the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project tunnel in Rasuwa on Saturday. A joint rescue team involving the Nepali Army and foreign rescue specialists brought him out alive, according to the Nepali Army and The Kathmandu Post.
Luhaitao had been trapped inside the tunnel since the disaster struck on August 26, when a massive surge of ice, rock, mud and water swept through the Trishuli river corridor.
Rescuers located him deep inside the tunnel as teams continued clearing and searching areas of the Upper Trishuli-1 project. The rescue operation was particularly challenging because the tunnel remained filled with debris and difficult conditions.
After being brought out, Luhaitao was taken for a medical examination. The Nepali Army said his vital signs were stable and he showed signs of mild hypothermia, but no obvious serious injuries were reported.
He was subsequently transported by helicopter for further medical care.
Luhaitao's rescue comes just one day after two Nepali workers were pulled alive from the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project after spending nine days trapped inside another tunnel.
With Luhaitao's rescue, three people have now been pulled alive from hydropower tunnels in the disaster-hit area. The successful rescues have intensified hopes that other workers who remain missing could still be alive.
Authorities believe hundreds of people may still be trapped or missing at hydropower projects affected by the disaster. Reuters reported that around 900 people were believed to have been stuck in tunnels following the August 26 disaster.
The rescue effort has involved Nepali security forces as well as specialists from several countries.
Chinese tunnel experts were sent to Nepal to support the search, while specialists from India and South Korea have also been involved in reconnaissance and rescue operations in affected hydropower projects.
The international teams have been working alongside the Nepali Army and other security agencies, particularly in areas where tunnels have been blocked by huge quantities of mud, rocks and debris.
The latest rescue comes as Nepal continues to deal with the enormous human cost of the Bhotekoshi disaster.
At least 1,344 people have been confirmed dead in Nepal, while approximately 4,887 people remain missing, according to figures reported by Reuters. Among those missing are hundreds of foreign nationals.
The disaster was triggered on August 26 after an ice-rock collapse in the Himalayan region sent a destructive surge of water and debris downstream, devastating settlements and infrastructure along the river system.
Hydropower projects were among the hardest-hit facilities, with tunnels becoming particularly dangerous locations for workers caught inside when the flood struck.
The rescue of Luhaitao has provided a powerful message of hope to families whose relatives have remained missing since the disaster.
Earlier on Saturday, rescuers also found 64-year-old Chandika Kumari Shrestha alive after she spent 10 days trapped inside a house buried under debris in Betrawati, Nuwakot.
The two rescues on the same day have encouraged authorities to continue searching damaged homes, tunnels and other structures even after more than a week of rescue operations.
For families waiting for information about missing hydropower workers, every successful rescue offers a reason to keep hoping.
Rescue teams are continuing operations at Upper Trishuli-1 and other hydropower projects across the affected region. Authorities are using excavators, helicopters, specialised equipment and international expertise to reach areas that remain inaccessible.
The survival of Luhaitao after 10 days underground demonstrates the extraordinary possibilities that remain even amid one of Nepal's worst disasters in recent years.
As search teams continue their work, families across the affected districts are still waiting for the news they have been hoping to hear: that their loved ones are alive.
HamroBichar will continue to follow the Bhotekoshi disaster, search and rescue operations, and developments involving missing workers and survivors.
Tags: Bhotekoshi Flood, Luhaitao, Chinese National, Upper Trishuli-1, Hydropower Rescue, Rasuwa, Nepal Flood, Rescue Operation, Nepal Disaster 2026
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