Nepal, Sept. 4 -- Sanjay Sah said he helped 40 to 45 of his colleagues escape after the Bhotekoshi flood struck the Trishuli-3A Hydropower Project-but ran out of time to save himself.

Rescued alive from the project's tunnel 10 days after the disaster, Sah told Nepali Army personnel that he stayed behind to ensure others got out safely before becoming trapped himself.

"I work as an operator in the control room. Usually, there would be only four, five or six people inside, but there were around 40 to 45 people that day," he told the Army. "Since I was in the control room, it was my responsibility to save everyone's life. I couldn't just run away on my own after such an accident. I had to make sure everyone was safe."

Sah said he alerted...