Chanted ‘Hare Krishna’ mantra for 9 days, says Nepal tunnel survivor after rescue on Krishna Janmashtami

A worker rescued from a tunnel at Nepal’s Trishuli 3A hydropower project after nine days said he kept chanting the ‘Hare Krishna’ mantra while trapped for nine days, hoping that he would be rescued. Sanjay Sah, a 30-year-old Nepal Electricity Authority employee, was among two workers rescued on Friday, coinciding with Krishna Janmashtami, the Hindu festival marking the birth of Lord Krishna, a PTI report stated.

Worker rescued after nine days

Sah, who is from Saptari district in Madhesh province, was working as a foreman at the hydropower project. He told security personnel that he had been chanting the mantra throughout the nine days he remained inside the tunnel. “I was chanting Hare Krishna mahamantra for the past nine days,” he said, briefly talking about the incident soon after he taken out safely. Security sources said Sah was in stable condition and had no health concerns. He was taken to a local hospital in Trishuli for medical attention.

Second worker airlifted to Kathmandu

Kabir Maharjan, 45, was the other worker rescued from the tunnel. He was airlifted to the Nepal Army Hospital in Chhauni, Kathmandu, as he required further treatment because of health complications.


Sah said he remained at the site when others started fleeing after the incident because he felt responsible for their safety. He said he was inside the control room when the accident happened. “I was working in the control room. My responsibility was to save everyone’s life,” Sah said.

He said he told others to run after the accident. However, by the time the others had escaped, it was too late for him to get out.

More workers may be trapped

Sah said he had heard or communicated with three or four people near him while he was trapped. “There were only three or four people with whom we were able to communicate, nearby, by talking or making noises.”

He also said more workers could be trapped farther inside the tunnel, including near the powerhouse. According to him, the tunnel is very long and floodwater may have pushed some people deeper inside.

“Not everyone may have been able to escape. The tunnel is very long,” he said, adding that the force of the floodwater could have carried people deeper inside.

The Nepal Army-led security command has been conducting the search and rescue operation at the project. Security teams are using specialised equipment as they continue efforts to locate anyone who may still be trapped inside the tunnel.