Trishuli, August 31: The aftermath of a catastrophic flood in Nepal reveals a scene of destruction and debris. Amidst the rubble, some homes still stand. Residents of the affected areas reported on Monday that while they received warnings about the flood, they never anticipated the water levels would rise to such dangerous heights.
Witnesses described the devastation as unimaginable, stating they lost their homes, shops, businesses, and all their belongings in the disaster.
One resident shared, “I have spent 40 years of my life here. We received warnings before the flood. Messages were sent to our mobile phones from the government, and we even got alerts from China. Friends living uphill called us too, but we thought our house was far enough from the river. We never imagined so much water would come and wash away the entire market.”
Another local recounted, “There were four or five warehouses here. I owned a grocery store. We received information just half an hour before, but we didn’t take it seriously, thinking the water wouldn’t rise that high. When the water reached the Trishuli bridge, we started to flee. The damage is immense, around 10 to 15 million rupees. My wife, three children, and I were there.”
A businessman involved in the potato, onion, and grain trade mentioned that they were warned just minutes before the floodwaters arrived. He said, “We had just come from outside, and five minutes before we got the news that everyone was fleeing due to the flood. We lost everything. There were six of us in the family, and thankfully, we are all safe.”
He added, “We have lost everything. I couldn’t even retrieve 5 rupees. Clothes, jewelry, money—everything is gone. My shop had 20 to 25 tons of goods. Our sack (gunny bag) shop and three-shuttered work area are all washed away. We couldn’t salvage a single item from the room. Just four days ago, I ordered medicine for my child from Kathmandu, and now there’s no trace of it. Everything is submerged.”
Another local noted that people received flood warnings only 15 to 20 minutes before it hit. “We thought such a massive event wouldn’t happen. Now you can see the destruction for yourself,” he said, pointing to where the old Dhunge Trishuli market once thrived, a vital hub for nearby villages.
He remarked, “What you see there used to be the old Dhunge Trishuli market. People from our mountain villages came here to shop. The loss is tremendous. Right in front was a hydropower plant, and next to it was a large shopping market where villagers shopped. It’s all gone now.”
A local resident recounted a dramatic rescue operation where a person was trapped on a rooftop as floodwaters surged around him. “This house became a focal point because someone was stuck on its roof. The flood was intense, and it was very stressful to watch. Rescuing that person was challenging due to the swift current. He shouted for help for a long time. Reaching him was nearly impossible because of the fast-flowing water. Eventually, someone went near the dangerous area, signaled for help, and the trapped individual was rescued,” he said.
He continued, “Many homes here are now at risk, but this particular house survived because it is very strong.”
Mabaraj Thapa, a member of the rescue team, reported that teams from the Likhu Rural Municipality are working on relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. “We are from the reconciliation department of Likhu Rural Municipality. Our entire team is engaged in rescue work here. So far, we have retrieved items from four homes, and the work is ongoing. We will work here all day and head to Devighat tomorrow to clear the area,” he stated.
Thapa added, “Our municipality has a team of 250 people present here. The situation regarding loss of life and property is dire. Now, the focus is on retrieving belongings and clearing homes. What happened is beyond words. It was incomprehensible. The bodies we found were badly decomposed, making identification very difficult. It was a tragic and unbelievable scene.”
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