In what emergency workers are calling an extraordinary tale of endurance, a 64-year-old Nepali woman was pulled alive from the rubble of her collapsed home 10 days after catastrophic flash floods swept through the country’s central river basins.

The survivor, Chandika Kumari Shrestha, was trapped beneath heavy layers of mud and quicksand in Betrawati village, Nuwakot district, following devastating floods that hit the region. Believing she had perished alongside hundreds of others across the country, her family had already given up hope and initiated traditional 11-day symbolic funeral rites in Kathmandu.

How the Search Turned Into a Miracle Rescue

When a massive deluge displaced her four-storey home and buried most of the structure under quicksand-like mud, intense initial searches yielded no signs of life. The surrounding terrain quickly deteriorated into swampy, hazardous ground, making physical access nearly impossible for days.

Having searched the area for over a week without success, Shrestha’s family gathered in Kathmandu to perform last rites using an effigy made of kusha grass. However, on the tenth day after the disaster, a team from Nepal’s Armed Police Force passing through the site heard faint cries for help coming from the upper level of the buried building.

Rescuers mounted a 45-minute operation, breaking through an exposed window frame to reach her. Shrestha had managed to survive in a narrow pocket of air trapped on the top floor while partially stuck in mud. She was immediately airlifted by a Nepali Army helicopter to Birendra Military Hospital in Kathmandu, where she is receiving medical care for minor injuries and exhaustion.

Why This Discovery Matters for Ongoing Relief Efforts

Nepal has been grappling with severe glacial lake outburst floods and monsoon torrents that have claimed over 1,300 lives and left nearly 5,000 people unaccounted for across affected corridors like the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers.

As search-and-rescue teams navigate hardened mud deposits that resemble concrete, Shrestha's survival has injected fresh momentum into local operations. Ground crews continue using specialized acoustic tools, whistles, and manual digging equipment near tunnels and structural pockets, holding out hope for additional survivors trapped in void spaces. Authorities remain focused on search efforts while managing relief distribution across vulnerable mountain districts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)


Q1: Who was rescued in the Nepal flood incident?

Chandika Kumari Shrestha, a 64-year-old resident of Betrawati in Nepal’s Nuwakot district, was rescued alive from her flood-buried home.

Q2: How long was the survivor trapped beneath the debris?

She survived trapped inside a small air pocket within the upper floor of her collapsed four-storey house for 10 days before being located.

Q3: Why had her family started funeral rituals?

After searching for eight days without finding any trace of her amid deep mud and hazardous conditions, her family presumed she had passed away and began symbolic 11-day mourning rites in Kathmandu.

Q4: Which team carried out the rescue operation?

A nine-member rescue team from Nepal's Armed Police Force (APF), led by Inspector Suman Kumar BK, executed the 45-minute rescue mission.