In a remarkable survival story, Ram Chandra and his team of hydropower workers managed to escape from a flooded tunnel in Nepal after being trapped for six hours. The incident occurred on August 26, when torrential rains from the Himalayas caused devastating floods that swept through the Trishuli River area, affecting numerous workers in the region.

As the floods surged, Chandra and his colleagues found themselves hundreds of meters inside the Trishuli 3A hydropower plant's tunnel when concrete and debris suddenly flooded the area. In a moment of quick thinking, Chandra grabbed onto a metal beam overhead, preventing himself from being swept away. "The muddy water rose quickly, making it hard for me to move. If I had let go of the beam, I would have fallen in," he recalled.

To avoid being stuck in the thick mud below, Chandra found a piece of metal sheeting to use as a foothold. He passed this makeshift support to his teammates, allowing them to inch their way toward the tunnel's exit over the course of six exhausting hours. Eventually, they managed to escape, though their clothes were stripped away by the rushing waters.

When daylight broke, the survivors were confronted with the horrific aftermath of the floods, which had claimed at least 797 lives and left over 3,000 people missing. Among the missing were more than 900 workers like Chandra, who were engaged in various hydropower projects in Nepal, deep within the Himalayas.

In total, around 279 hydropower workers were rescued or managed to wade through the mud to safety. However, many others are believed to still be trapped inside the tunnels. Rescue teams have been working tirelessly, drilling holes to pump air and deliver food in hopes of reaching those who may still be stranded.

The floods were reportedly triggered by a glacier collapse in the mountains, leading to a catastrophic surge of water. One survivor, Madan Singh Budha, described how he narrowly escaped by running uphill as the waters rushed in. "Those who couldn’t climb in time were swept away," he recounted.

Another survivor, Bhakti Ram Bohara, shared his grief over the loss of his brother-in-law, who is among the missing. "My sister is pregnant, and we are all praying for his safe return," he said with tears in his eyes.

The situation remains dire as rescue operations continue in the aftermath of this natural disaster, highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by workers in the region.