Full Breakdown
Miraculous Rescue Amid Nepal’s Deadly August Floods
9/7/2026, 12:10:01 AM
The Rescue of Chandika Shrestha
On the eleventh day after the flash floods that struck Nepal on August 26, police Inspector Mahendra Darnal’s team located 64-year-old Chandika Kumari Shrestha alive inside the collapsed four-storey house of Anand Lal Shrestha in Betrawati, Nuwakot district. Rescuers heard a faint cry, broke a window and extracted her from a narrow air pocket after 45 minutes. She was airlifted to Birendra Military Hospital for treatment.
Background: August 26 Flash Floods in Betrawati
Heavy monsoon rains triggered a glacial outburst that sent floodwaters into the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, sweeping through the valley and burying homes, markets and roads. Betrawati, a historic trading hub on the Rasuwa-Nuwakot route, suffered extensive damage, with sections of the Trishuli-Betrawati road eroded and the market reduced to rubble.
Ongoing Search, Missing Persons, and Casualties
The disaster left more than 1,300 dead across Nepal, with the Nepal Police reporting 1,344 deaths. In Betrawati, 193 people are missing from six settlements comprising 299 households. Nationwide, the police have rescued 6,853 persons while 5,015 remain unaccounted for.
Official Responses and Coordination
The Nepal Police set up a round-the-clock disaster rescue centre, mobilising 7,912 officers and deploying dogs and drones. DIG Abhi Narayan Kafle said the centre receives rescue requests and operates a “missing help desk” at Police Headquarters and Tribhuvan International Airport.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority allocated NPR 10 million each to Rasuwa and Nuwakot for immediate relief. Health officials flagged contamination of five drinking-water sources in flood-hit Bidur and are considering cholera vaccination for 100,000 residents and measles vaccination for 75,000 children.
Deputy Inspector General Dr. Damodar Poudel announced a DNA sample-collection centre in Bidur to speed identification of recovered bodies. India’s Ambassador Naveen Srivastava highlighted Indian aid, including tunnel-rescue teams, a forensic unit and five relief flights delivering supplies.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was in touch with the family, and they had started the 11-day mourning period,” — Mahendra Darnal
- “Some are staying in the Nuwakot Durbar area, while others are taking shelter with relatives in Kathmandu.” — Shashi Dangol, committee chairperson
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the death toll: one report cites “more than 1,300” deaths, while the police specify 1,344. Missing-person figures also vary, with the police listing 5,015 missing nationwide versus 193 missing in Betrawati. The DNA centre notes 192 bodies received and 18 identified so far.
What’s Next
The DNA centre will continue sampling to identify victims. Local leaders are urging construction of a paved road and have proposed a memorial park. Reconstruction plans aim to preserve Betrawati’s cultural heritage while relocating vulnerable settlements. Ongoing international assistance, especially from India, will support both relief and long-term rebuilding.
