07.09.2026 06:50
Chandika Kumari Shrestha, who went missing in the flood disaster in Nepal, was found alive 10 days after her family began mourning, believing she had died. The elderly woman, clinging to life among the wreckage of her four-story home, was rescued after about 45 minutes of effort when teams heard her voice calling, 'Save me.'
Following the devastating floods in Nepal, while search and rescue efforts continue, a development that revived hopes occurred. Chandika Kumari Shrestha, who went missing in Betrawati, one of the areas most affected by the floods, was found alive 10 days after the disaster.
HER FAMILY ASSUMED SHE WAS DEAD AND BEGAN MOURNING
After no news was received from Shrestha for days, her family assumed the elderly woman had lost her life in the flood. Thereupon, the family began an 11-day mourning period.
However, the news that came days later stunned the family. It turned out that Shrestha was alive in the rubble of the four-story building that had been swept away by the floodwaters.
THEY HEARD THE VOICE "SAVE ME"
According to police officer Mahendra Darnal, while teams were searching around the building trapped in thick mud, they heard a voice saying "Save me."
The teams, heading towards the source of the sound, reached Shrestha in a narrow space after about 45 minutes of effort. After the elderly woman was extracted from the rubble, she was taken to a military hospital for treatment.
SHE CLUNG TO LIFE FOR 10 DAYS
After the flood, a large part of Betrawati remained under rubble and a hardened layer of thick mud. Rescue workers dug through building remnants with shovels, while some teams tried to reach survivors by entering narrow gaps.
Shrestha's rescue alive after 10 days became a hope for new rescues in the region where thousands of people are still missing.
NO NEWS STILL FROM THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
Despite days having passed since the disaster, no news has been received from approximately 5,000 people. Search and rescue teams continue their work in structures and tunnels buried under the hardened mud.
There were also people rescued alive days later in the tunnels of the hydroelectric power plant near the Trishuli River. Among them, a Chinese citizen was found alive 10 days after the disaster, approximately 225 meters inside from the tunnel entrance.