'My family members were swept away': Survivors describe horror

At least 389 people have died and 900 others are missing after a massive flash flood struck villages on the border of Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday, the highest toll since the 2015 earthquake. The deluge, which initially confused seismologists with its sheer force, swept away homes, livestock and entire communities, leaving survivors to recount the horror they witnessed.

Rescue teams trudged through mud and debris on Thursday as Nepalese authorities rushed to bring aid and relief supplies to the affected areas. “My family members were swept away by the flood in front of my eyes,” said Kalpana Malla of Nuwakot district. Malla, who lost her father, mother, sister and the children of her sister, said the flood took everything. “There was no chance at all,” she added. “My son and I climbed the rooftop of a house and survived but couldn’t explain how.” Her son, Sugam Malla, claimed he had pulled his mother’s hand to safety and had given his sister a phone to stay in touch. The phone was no longer reachable, he said, and he feared she might have been swept away.

Another survivor, Goma Pandit, lost all her cattle and farmland. “My farmland is also swept away. Ten sacks of mustard seeds, tons of corn and rice paddy are all gone. Nothing is left,” she said. Her loss underscores the scale of the devastation, which has left many without basic food supplies.

In Kathmandu’s TU Teaching Hospital, families of the missing wait anxiously for updates. Ram Khumari Shrestha held up her phone, explaining, “This is my husband. He was off to Rasuwa as part of his driving job. He was in contact with me until 8 pm yesterday. I couldn’t call him this morning. The phone was switched off.” Mani Shrestha Bishwa, also camped at the hospital, said he last heard from his younger brother, cousin, uncle and friend at 8:30 am. “We are waiting for any sign,” he said.

Trekking guide Sonam Dorjee missed the flood in his home village of Rasiwa Syafru by about an hour. He had left at 08:00 local time and, while driving to Kathmandu, heard the sound of floods gushing into his village. “It sounded like an earthquake,” he said. “My house has collapsed… I have seen a photo.” Dorjee’s sister, Dechen Tamang, along with her husband and several other family members, remain missing. He described the flood as “sudden and devastating” and said many survivors are now left without homes and need emergency rescue, evacuation, food, temporary accommodation and medical support. He prayed that his sister might still be found alive, adding, “There is a 10 % chance, we hope.”

Rescue operations have been hampered by the mud’s depth and the sheer scale of the destruction. Helicopters have flown in survivors to Kathmandu, where medical teams are treating injuries and providing psychological support. The government has appealed for international aid and has set up temporary shelters for those displaced. Officials say the flood was triggered by a sudden release of water from a collapsed dam in the region, which released an estimated 200,000 cubic meters of water in a matter of minutes.

The disaster has highlighted the vulnerability of Himalayan communities to climate‑related hazards. Local authorities are reviewing early warning systems and flood defenses. In the meantime, families continue to search for loved ones, while survivors recount the terrifying moments when they saw their homes and relatives disappear into the torrent. The flood’s impact will be felt for months, as the region grapples with rebuilding and recovery.