Stories told by six people who miraculously survived the Nepal disaster

As death pursued them by a matter of seconds, the valleys of Bhote Koshi and Trishuli in Nepal are still reverberating with the cries of those who unbelievably triumphed over life in the face of nature's merciless devastation. The Bhote Koshi River, which once flowed peacefully at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, instantly swelled several feet high, transforming into a massive torrent of black mud and soil in a flash.

This sudden series of floods and landslides, which swallowed beautiful settlements like Timure and Syafrubesi in Rasuwa, as well as entire marketplaces, buried hundreds of dreams and lives under the soil. Only a few were able to escape the jaws of that great death. However, those who miraculously survived are now facing the immeasurable pain of seeing their relatives and colleagues disappear before their very eyes.

The images of 36-year-old Rambachchan Sah, walking aimlessly near Trishuli, his body covered in mud, barefoot, and with terrified eyes, still shake many hearts today. Rambachchan, a resident of Rautahat, had been making sweets in Trishuli for the past 15 years, and this Wednesday morning was no different. Suddenly, a great roaring sound came from the mountain, and a black torrent crashed into the shop. Without a moment to think, the massive floodwaters swept Rambachchan away. In that terrifying moment, oscillating between life and death, an electrical wire accidentally fell into his hand. Hanging onto the wire above the surging water, he wrestled with death second by second. He clung to that electrical wire for nearly half an hour to escape the massive floodwaters flowing below. Although he eventually survived, Sangeetha, the owner of the shop where he worked, her son Rahul, and his colleague Vinod were swallowed by the great flood and disappeared. Rambachchan says that even though the mud on his body has washed away, the fear instilled in his mind by that horrific morning will never fade.

On another side, the story of a young man named Sachin Khati from Jhapa is heart-wrenching. Sachin worked at a gold and silver shop in Syafrubesi with his 33-year-old uncle Rajkumar Diyali, his aunt Shreethi, and his four-year-old little cousin Shriraj. On Wednesday morning, Uncle Rajkumar sent Sachin to the Chilime area for an urgent task. That dispatch turned out to be a divine intervention that saved Sachin's life. When Sachin returned, breathless, after hearing the news of the flood, his entire village had been joyfully swept away by the raging waters of the Bhote Koshi River. Where the house of his uncle, who gave him life, and his small family once stood, there is now only a large pile of mud. While Sachin's relatives weep, wishing for at least a body to perform the last rites even if it's not found, Sachin is currently receiving shelter under army protection.

The experience of 36-year-old Rajkumar Karki, who drove his vehicle and escaped death in the face of the terrifying landslide in Bhote Koshi, is like a scene from a thrilling movie. Rajkumar, a container truck driver, was staying at a hotel in Betrawati on Tuesday night. As he was preparing to head towards Timure in the morning, he heard loud shouts warning of an approaching flood. He immediately turned his container truck towards Galchi, and seeing the floodwaters rushing down from the mountain like a massive wave, he maximized the vehicle's speed. Without looking at any potholes on the road, he drove, watching the great water monster pursuing him in the rearview mirror. Rajkumar witnessed nine container trucks behind his vehicle, along with their drivers, being swallowed by the flood right before his eyes. Finally, by managing to drive his vehicle to the Dungebazar mountain in Trishuli, Rajkumar and his vehicle were saved. Although Rajkumar, who has been driving for 20 years, has returned to his family, the shadow of that horrific wave that swallowed his colleagues behind him still haunts his heart.

The life of 40-year-old Gathey Kami from Salyan was saved due to his rural experiences from childhood. Gathey, who was working at the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project in Rasuwa, heard the sound of massive rock fragments breaking off while working on a road 50 meters above the river. Simultaneously, the river began to overflow, and he immediately shouted to his colleagues and ran towards the forest. He ran so fast towards the mountainous region with dense forests, about 500 meters high, that he collapsed unconscious as soon as he reached the top of the mountain. When he regained consciousness and looked down, he saw that the entire town where he worked was covered in soil and heard the cries of people running towards the forest. Gathey says that if it weren't for his childhood experience of chasing goats up and down the hills in his village, he would have succumbed to death that day.

Raju Budhathoki and Prakash Gautam, who worked at the Timure Customs Office, also faced a mortal fear. Around 8:45 AM, as the entire mountain shook as if by an earthquake, they rushed out of their rooms and saw even police officers running to save their lives. Raju's hand was injured as he jumped through the police fence. From above, they watched in disbelief as buildings in the intelligent market town of Timure collapsed into the Trishuli River within seconds. They ascended hundreds of meters into the forest and spent the entire night fasting amidst the mud until military helicopters dropped food packets on Thursday morning. Prakash Gautam says he felt reborn after boarding the helicopter.

Mr. Tulsibahadur Bhandari from Dolakha received life through a miracle. A massive wave of black mud crashed towards him, and the fierce wave pushed him aside. If that wave hadn't thrown him onto a rock formation on the bank, he would not be alive today. Amidst many such miraculous escapes, hundreds of people from various areas, including Jhapa and Rautahat, are still missing. Cries for help, houses buried under soil, and bodies floating down the Trishuli River are the only remaining sights in that area today.

While the injured are receiving treatment at Vidur and Kathmandu hospitals in Nuwakot, deeper wounds remain in their hearts than on their bodies. The difference of a few seconds between life and death saved some, but it has also bequeathed them memories of loved ones and an unending sorrow to grieve over for the rest of their lives.

For the handful who received life again through death's mercy, this new life that has dawned is also a restless burden until they can at least find a trace of their lost loved ones.