The survival of two men trapped for nine days inside a flooded tunnel in Nepal is nothing short of extraordinary.
In complete darkness, surrounded by mud and floodwater, Kabir Maharjan and Sanjay Sah somehow held on until rescuers finally reached them. Their story is one of courage, endurance and, frankly, unbelievable luck.
But while the world celebrates their survival, it is worth asking a more difficult question: should workers ever have to depend on luck to survive a disaster?
Reports from the disaster suggest that confusion and a lack of knowledge about escape routes may have made the situation even worse. In an emergency, every second matters. Workers should know exactly where to go, how to escape and what to do when disaster strikes.
Nepal is no stranger to floods and landslides. Its geography makes natural disasters a constant threat. That is precisely why safety planning cannot be treated as a formality, especially at major infrastructure projects.
The rescue of the two men deserves to be celebrated. The teams who kept digging despite the dangerous conditions showed remarkable determination. But survival stories should not make us forget those who did not make it out.
There is always a danger that a miracle rescue becomes the headline while the failures behind the disaster are forgotten.
Two men survived nine days underground. That is an incredible story.
The real question now is whether the lessons from their survival will be remembered long enough to prevent the next tragedy.