Kathmandu: As severe flooding swept away buildings and infrastructure in parts of Nepal, a green house that remained standing went viral online. The homeowner said the structure was built about 40 years ago and credited its strong foundation for withstanding the surge.
The flood was triggered on the 26th when a glacier collapse in a Nepal region bordering Tibet caused a sharp rise in the Bhote Koshi river. Multi-storey houses, vehicles and bridges were among the structures reported to have been washed away.
The owner, Prakash, said his family of six received a flood warning while he was at his shop. He rushed home, alerted his family and tried to evacuate, but water quickly surrounded the area. The family moved upstairs, ran up to the fourth floor and, as water continued to rise, climbed onto the roof. He said his son was at school at the time, and the fear of what would happen to him weighed heavily on his mind.
Prakash said the house was built when cement and construction materials were of better quality, and extra care had been taken with the base because it was close to the river. While items on the ground floor were damaged and two-wheelers were swept away, the main structure held.
After a few hours, as the water level began to recede, locals rescued the family using ropes and pipes, he said. The family is currently in Kathmandu and plans to restart life from the same house.
His wife, Laxmi Pandey, said the family prayed continuously during the ordeal, chanting “Om Namah Shivaya” and singing the Hanuman Chalisa. Calling their survival a “second birth,” she said they felt fortunate that the house remained firm even amid the disaster, recalling that they had also felt strong tremors during Nepal’s earthquake while nearby homes were damaged.
