A video has emerged showing a family stranded on a balcony in Nepal as they endure severe flooding. The incident occurred in the town of Trishuli, located in the Nuwakot district, where floodwaters devastated the area in a matter of minutes.
In a rapid rise, the Trishuli River surged by as much as nine meters within half an hour, leading to the collapse of homes and bridges, and engulfing much of the valley. Among those affected, a family of five took refuge on the second floor of their turquoise house, witnessing the destruction of their community.
On the morning the floods began, the river overflowed at an alarming rate, leaving local residents with minimal time to respond. Lakshmi Pandey, who was at her shop a short distance from home, quickly realized the impending danger. She recounted, “We rushed back as fast as we could because my mother-in-law and my daughter were at home,” in an interview with The Economic Times, as translated by ABC News.
As she alerted her mother-in-law, “The flood is coming, we need to run,” a sudden surge upstream unleashed a torrent of ice, mud, and debris, wreaking havoc on the valley’s towns and villages. Streets were submerged in mere moments.
“The old bridge broke, and an overwhelming wave of water surged down,” she explained. It was then that she understood they could no longer escape on foot. The flash flood claimed the lives of over 150 people and destroyed the bridge in Trishuli, as terrified onlookers observed the chaos.
Trapped inside their turquoise home near the river, the family, which included the mother, her husband, daughter, in-laws, and a neighbor, remained stranded while their son was at school. From their balcony, they could see floodwaters inundating the lower levels of their house.
A viral video depicts the family clinging to the balcony’s railing, leading to their residence being referred to as the “miracle house” and “greenhouse” on social media. “Water was crashing against the house from both sides, and the entire structure shook; it felt like the massive tremors we experienced during the 2015 Nepal earthquake,” the mother recalled.
As surrounding homes succumbed to the flood, the couple feared for their lives. “I thought my son would be all alone now, an orphan,” she expressed. “We believed if we survived, we would all do so together; if we perished, we would all perish.” Her husband, Prakash Pyakurel, felt a sense of finality, deciding they should remain united in what felt like their last moments, reciting prayers.
While they awaited rescue, the mother reminded herself, “We are five people; we need to stay calm.” Video footage released on Saturday illustrated rescue teams constructing a temporary bridge to reach the family, with mud visible on the walls just below their balcony.
She noted that four neighbors risked their safety to come to their aid. “Somehow, they managed to get us all out safely,” she said.
Experts have speculated on why the turquoise house withstood the flooding. Adrian McCallum, the head of engineering at the University of the Sunshine Coast, suggested that the house’s elevated structure likely allowed water to flow beneath it, reducing pressure on the building. He also indicated that its construction on solid rock and use of concrete with reinforcing steel contributed to its resilience.
Additionally, the house’s position behind a small headland likely shielded it from the main force of the floodwaters.
Authorities believe the disaster may have been triggered by a section of a Himalayan glacier breaking off and crashing into the river, leading to flash floods and mudslides. As of Tuesday, the death toll had exceeded 1,000 as search and rescue operations, involving heavy machinery and helicopters, continued for those still unaccounted for after nearly a week.
Hundreds remain stranded at devastated hydropower stations, which have become a focal point for rescue efforts. Specialized teams from China, India, and Nepal have constructed temporary bridges to reach isolated areas and are using excavators to rescue approximately 300 workers trapped in tunnels.
On Monday, the surviving family returned to their intact home to survey the damages. The area that was once their town had transformed into a landscape of mud. The mother expressed her gratitude that her family, including her son, had been given a “second chance at life.”
For those looking to assist the many affected by this catastrophe, the ABC is collaborating with Emergency Action Alliance member charities and their local partners to provide support. More information is available on their website.
