Nepal: Worker Who Chanted ‘Hare Krishna’ For 9 Days Rescued Alive On Janmashtami
Sanjay Sah, an employee of the Nepal Electricity Authority from Saptari district in Madhesh province, told rescuers that he had continued chanting the Hare Krishna mantra throughout the nine days he remained trapped.
A 30-year-old worker trapped inside a tunnel at Nepal’s Trishuli 3A hydropower project for nine days was rescued alive on Friday, September 4, after spending the ordeal chanting the “Hare Krishna” mahamantra. Sanjay Sah was among two workers pulled out of the underground facility as rescue teams continued searching for others believed to be trapped following devastating floods in the region, TOI reported.
Sanjay Sah Survived Nine Days Underground
Sah, an employee of the Nepal Electricity Authority from Saptari district in Madhesh province, told rescuers that he had continued chanting the Hare Krishna mantra throughout the nine days he remained trapped. Miracle Rescue in Nepal: 2 Workers Found Alive After 9 Days in Trishuli-3 ‘A’ Tunnel After Flash Flood (Videos).
Worker Who Chanted ‘Hare Krishna’ For 9 Days Rescued Alive
‘HARE KRISHNA’ MAHA-MANTRA - 10 DAYS IN DARKNESS. ONE MANTRA. ONE FIGHT TO SURVIVE.
Mechanical engineer Sanjay Sah survived around 10 days trapped inside Nepal’s Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel after the August 26 floods.
In the darkness, he kept chanting the ‘Hare Krishna’… pic.twitter.com/UxIv7xZQu0
— Subodh Kumar (@kumarsubodh_) September 4, 2026
His rescue coincided with Krishna Janmashtami, the Hindu festival marking the birth of Lord Krishna. Sah was brought out alive from the tunnel and given initial medical attention before being moved for further treatment. His injuries were reported to be non-critical.
Video released by the Nepal Army showed rescuers carrying Sah out through the muddy tunnel. He had mud covering his face after spending days underground. Tragedy in Nepal: How Do Flash Floods Happen?.
Sah Stayed Behind To Help Other Workers
According to Sah, he was working in the project’s control room when the disaster struck. Rather than immediately leaving, he stayed behind to help other workers escape. By the time others had managed to get out, Sah was unable to leave and became trapped inside the underground structure.
While inside, he said he remained in contact with people nearby through voices and sounds. He indicated that he could communicate with only a few people around him because of the length and condition of the tunnel.
Second Worker Also Rescued
Sah was rescued alongside 45-year-old Kabir Maharjan, a mechanical supervisor at the project. The Nepal Army’s Public Relations Directorate confirmed the identities of both men.
Maharjan was reportedly in a more serious condition and had limited movement in his limbs. Both men were being taken for medical treatment in Kathmandu.
Rescue Efforts Continue
The two rescues came nine days after a major ice, rock and mudslide struck the Trishuli River valley on August 26, causing extensive flooding and destruction.
Rescue teams from the Nepal Army and Armed Police Force have been working to reach workers trapped in tunnels connected to hydropower projects in the affected area. Officials have estimated that hundreds of people could still be trapped or missing across the affected hydropower facilities.
The successful rescue of Sah and Maharjan has renewed hopes that other survivors may still be found as search operations continue in the damaged underground facilities.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 04, 2026 08:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
