Nepal flood survivors turn rescuers while mourning missing family members

Nuwakot,UPDATED: Sep 5, 2026 14:04 IST

Several survivors of Nepal's devastating floods have returned to relief and rescue work even as they mourn their own losses and search for missing family members. The floods, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, devastated towns and villages in northern and central Nepal, killing more than 1,300 people, while around 4,900 remain missing.

Among those helping others are Sudip Kumar Neupane in Rasuwa and Suchit Joshi in neighbouring Nuwakot. Both men have suffered personal tragedies in the disaster, but have continued working on the ground to support those affected, according to reports by The Kathmandu Post and the OnlineKhabar news portal.

Neupane, 31, survived the August 26 flood that swept away his younger brother and a close colleague. He had been helping warn villagers about the approaching flood when he was caught in the torrent along with his 27-year-old brother Pradip and an acquaintance, Janak.

The three men were racing back to safety after being warned that the flood was approaching. The flood struck soon afterwards, sweeping away Pradip and Janak, while Neupane survived after running uphill. After spending two days grieving, he joined relief efforts in Rasuwa, helping distribute food and other assistance to displaced people, as the local government unit was short of staff and people needed food and shelter. "I survived by luck. For as long as I live, I will continue serving society and the people," he was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post.

In neighbouring Nuwakot, Joshi has continued helping with search and rescue efforts while four members of his own family - his wife, seven-year-old daughter, sister-in-law and nephew - remain missing. During a search operation, he found his uncle and another nephew. His search then widened into a rescue effort, with five people joining his team.

The group helped people trapped by the flood and rescued an elderly woman who had been stranded in floodwater in front of her house, taking her to safety. Joshi has also continued searching for his relatives alongside security personnel. During one search mission, three bodies were recovered from the Trishuli, but they were badly damaged and could not be identified. "I am enduring it and still continuing with the rescue work," he was quoted as saying by the news portal.

Even as they deal with the loss of loved ones and the uncertainty of missing family members, survivors such as Neupane and Joshi have remained part of the response to one of Nepal's worst flood disasters, helping provide relief, rescue stranded people and continue the search for the missing.

With PTI Inputs

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