Dhubri, Aug 31: Eight workers from Assam, who were stranded in Nepal following the devastating floods of August 26, reached Dhubri in the early hours of Monday, while five of their co-workers on the Upper Trishuli hydropower project remain missing. The eight workers were brought to Dhubri from the Nepal border with assistance from the police and district administration and are now being sent to their respective homes.They have been identified as Pankaj Barman, Gopal Debnath, Gautam Das, Samar Bezbaruah, Sarbison Marak, Soneswar Narzary, Silva Marak and Elipson Changma.The workers said a total of 13 people from Assam had travelled to Nepal for employment and were working at the hydropower project when floodwaters suddenly swept through the area, forcing them to flee to higher ground.The survivors said they remained stranded on a mountain for several days with little or no food before being rescued by the Nepal Army in a helicopter and taken to Kathmandu. Arrangements were subsequently made for their return to Assam. “We were stuck on top of a mountain for about three days without food. The Nepal Army rescued us by helicopter and took us to Kathmandu. From there, arrangements were made for our return. We reached Dhubri at around 3 am today,” said Gautam Das of Doboka in Hojai district. Gautam said five of their colleagues remain untraceable. “Many of our co-workers are still missing. Helicopters are searching for them, but there is no information yet. We barely survived. Our clothes, bags and other belongings were washed away, while our rooms and the local market were completely swept away,” he said. Pankaj Barman of Nalbari, who was also working at the Upper Trishuli project, recalled the terrifying moment floodwaters entered the powerhouse. “We were working inside the powerhouse tunnel, on the turbine generator, when we suddenly heard a loud sound, like an explosion. We saw water rushing rapidly into the powerhouse and immediately ran outside whichever way possible,” he said. Pankaj said the river rose by around 50 to 60 feet, carrying large stones and debris. The workers then climbed to the top of a mountain to escape the surging waters. “For four days, we survived only on water and biscuits. The Army provided us with food before rescuing us and taking us to Kathmandu,” he said. Pankaj said he had been working on different projects in Nepal for around six years and was currently engaged at the Upper Trishuli project. Silva Marak, a resident of Satgaon in West Karbi Anglong, said he had been working in Nepal for around seven to eight months. “There were around 13 of us from Assam. Eight have returned safely, while five are still missing. Rescue teams are searching for them. We have now reached Dhubri and arrangements are being made to send us back to our respective villages,” he said. Gopal Debnath of Digaru in Sonapur said the missing workers are from Nalbari, Karbi Anglong and Hojai districts. “The Assam Chief Minister has arranged for our flights. We came from Kathmandu and are now in Dhubri before proceeding home,” he said. While the eight workers have returned safely to Assam, the whereabouts of their five colleagues remain unknown, with search and rescue operations continuing in Nepal.