Sustained on noodles, 97-year-old woman pulled from rubble: How people survived Nepal flash floods

On Wednesday, Nepal experienced a catastrophic flash flood, resulting in massive destruction and a death toll that surpassed 600 by Saturday. The disaster has left thousands missing, with rescue and recovery efforts ongoing. Among the survivors, a remarkable story emerged of 97-year-old Guna Maya Bohara, who was rescued after a four-hour effort by authorities. Bohara, described by her great-nephew as a "warrior," was found alive from the rubble of her care home.

Another survivor, Raju Budhathoki, recounted his harrowing experience. Budhathoki, a customs agent in Timure, was awakened by the hillside shaking as if an earthquake had occurred. He quickly fled to a nearby police post, witnessing houses being swept away by the floodwaters. Budhathoki eventually found refuge in a forest approximately 500 meters uphill. He expressed amazement at his second chance at life, stating, "I never imagined I would get a second chance at life like this."

Prakash Gautam, another customs agent, shared his survival story. After hearing a rumbling sound, Gautam fled into the darkness, sustaining a deep toe injury during his escape. He described the devastation of seeing dead bodies floating in the floodwaters and managed to reach a forest where he survived on noodle packets dropped by the Nepali Army before being rescued around 10 am on Thursday. Gautam expressed relief upon boarding the helicopter that brought him to safety.