A sudden flash flood struck Nepal's Trishuli region on August 26, unleashing destruction that washed away houses, shops, and vehicles. Amid this immense devastation, a two-storey mint-green house belonging to Lakshmi Pandey remained completely intact, sparking viral videos across social media. The homeowner recounted the terrifying ordeal, expressing gratitude that her family managed to escape unhurt.
A Second Lease on Life
Lakshmi Pandey described the harrowing event, stating that she considers her family incredibly fortunate to have survived what felt like a second birth. Floodwaters had rushed into the lower level of the house, forcing the family to scramble to the upper floor for safety. Pandey recalled that during the massive earthquake in Nepal, they had also experienced severe tremors that brought down several neighbouring homes, and neighbors had rescued them back then as well.
Six Family Members Trapped Inside
Residents of Trishuli had no prior inkling that such a catastrophe would strike their neighborhood. Recalling the sequence of events, Pandey explained that she and her husband were at their nearby shop when the disaster began. They rushed back into the house to rescue her mother-in-law and daughter, heading to the upper storey. Just as they reached the upper level, the old bridge collapsed and the raging torrent arrived, trapping a total of six people inside the house.
Surrounding Landscape Altered Completely
The floodwaters surged through the Trishuli area with such ferocious speed that buildings, shops, bridges, and vehicles vanished in moments. Pandey's two-storey mint-green house stood almost unchanged amidst the widespread ruin. Images and videos of the property quickly circulated online, turning the structure into a symbol of unexpected survival. However, the surrounding landscape has been drastically altered, with numerous buildings destroyed, bridges wiped out, and many families forced to evacuate their homes and livelihoods. Rescue and relief operations continue extensively across the affected zones.
Witnessing the Wall of Water
Local resident Phoolmaya Lama shared her experience, stating she was at home attending to her daily routine when the disaster unfolded. She noted that she had opened her nearby clothing shop, cleaned up, and sat down when news arrived that a glacial lake in Tibet had burst, washing away Timure village and devastating Syabrubesi. Authorities continuously broadcast warnings via loudspeaker urging residents to flee immediately.
Surviving the Chaos and Displacement
Lama recalled seeing a wall of water as high as a mountain rushing toward them, prompting immediate panic as elderly residents, school children, school buses, and even a police vehicle warning citizens were swept away. Lama's own home was completely destroyed, leaving her family to shelter at another person's home in the village for the past six days with uncertainty surrounding their food and future housing. While many neighbors remained safe, several individuals near her home, including a mother and her son, visiting siblings at a hotel, and an elderly local, remain missing, with five people unaccounted for in her immediate vicinity.
