Deepak Tamang, a survivor of the sudden and devastating flash floods in Nepal, has shared a harrowing account of the disaster that saw people frantically scrambling for higher ground as rushing waters crushed homes and swept individuals away in a violent tide of mud and debris. Initially, Deepak Tamang thought the ground was shaking, but upon realizing that a wall of water, mud, and boulders was surging toward the houses along the banks of the Bhote Koshi River in the Timure market area, he knew his only chance of survival was to climb upward.
Fleeing toward the steep hill was the only choice
Deepak Tamang recalled that when he rushed out of his house and started running uphill, several buildings had already collapsed due to the ferocious floodwaters. He noted that he was left with very few options as the roaring floodwaters rapidly pursued him from behind while a sheer, wall-like cliff stood directly in front of him.
Clinging to thorny bushes and plants to ascend
According to Deepak Tamang, he initially ran down a slope and attempted to scale the cliff face that resembled a vertical wall. During this desperate ascent, he stumbled and fell multiple times, but he persevered by gripping onto thorny bushes and vegetation to pull himself upward.
Every fall felt like the final moment of life
Deepak Tamang further expressed that the entire escape felt like a final race between life and death. Every single time he slipped and fell, a chilling thought crossed his mind that it was going to be the very last moment of his existence. He also observed that terrified residents were running helter-skelter in various directions in a desperate bid to escape the path of the oncoming deluge.
Watching friends get swept away helplessly
Deepak Tamang shared that once he finally managed to reach the summit of the hill, he witnessed people, including his own friends, being carried away by the powerful and raging current. Feeling utterly helpless, he could do nothing as his friends vanished right before his eyes into the violent waves. Meanwhile, Nepal President thanked India for providing flood assistance, and a Nepali minister praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as extremely generous.
