Kathmandu— A catastrophic flash flood swept through parts of Rasuwa and neighboring districts in Nepal on Wednesday, leaving a trail of destruction and forcing hundreds to seek refuge. Residents of Devighat in Nuwakot district described terrifying moments as the Bhotekoshi River surged, inundating homes and an elderly care facility where over 100 people were staying. Rescue operations continued Thursday with government agencies and humanitarian organizations working to reach stranded individuals and deliver essential supplies to those displaced by the disaster.

Elderly Home Residents Caught in the Surge

Seventy-three-year-old Bhakta Lal Shrestha recounted how he and other residents of an elderly home were preparing for breakfast when the flood struck. He described a harrowing escape, noting that four fellow senior citizens among approximately 35 at the facility perished in the disaster. Residents had been stranded for nearly nine hours before being rescued. “We were about to go downstairs for our morning meal when the disaster struck. We somehow survived,” Shrestha told reporters.

Timely Warnings and Initial Relief Efforts

Kalpana Chitrakar, a 49-year-old resident of Devighat, credited swift action by local police with preventing even greater loss of life. She explained that authorities used public address systems to warn residents, allowing them just enough time to escape the rising waters. By Thursday, survivors were taking shelter at the District Ayurvedic Health Centre and began receiving relief supplies from the government and various organizations. Chitrakar expressed gratitude for the assistance but voiced concerns about the long-term implications of displacement.

Rescue Operations Intensify

Government agencies deployed six helicopters – four operated by the Nepali Army and two private operators – to assist with rescue efforts, basing operations out of the Shree No. 1 Nepali Army Training Centre in Bidur, Nuwakot. Relief materials were distributed to over 200 flood-affected households in Devighat by organizations including the Nepal Red Cross Society. Sujan Gajurel, a local youth leader involved in relief distribution, reported that more than 175 families received essential supplies on Thursday, including food, health kits, clothing, tarpaulins and blankets.

First Responders Detail Challenges

Assistant Sub-Inspector Arun Kumar Baitha, the in-charge of the Devighat Police Post, described the immediate aftermath as chaotic. His team of four security personnel rescued 21 people from the affected area and recovered four bodies. The rescued individuals and those evacuated from the settlement are currently housed in temporary shelters. “We were just a team of four when the catastrophe struck,” Baitha said.

Rescue teams continue to search for missing persons as displaced families await further assistance and assess the damage to their homes and livelihoods.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.