Amid the recent devastating floods in Nepal, which sent shockwaves across the world, more than a thousand people have lost their lives, with thousands still unaccounted for — among them not just local residents but tourists from several countries as well. The floods swept away even large buildings, flattening numerous structures in their path. Yet, amid this widespread devastation, one house managed to withstand the fury of the floods and remained standing. Remarkably, the family inside the house survived unharmed even as they remained trapped within it during the disaster. A video of the house has since gone massively viral, and its owner has now come forward to explain the reason behind what many are calling a miracle.
The house, which withstood the raging floodwaters even as devastation engulfed the surrounding area, is located in Nuwakot district of Nepal. As homes all around it were submerged by the massive floodwaters, the sight of this one building standing intact left everyone astonished. Speaking to the media, the house’s owner, Prakash, who was inside the building at the time the floods struck, shared his experience of that harrowing day.
“When the floodwaters surrounded our house, I was inside with five members of my family. I was initially outside at a shop when I received a flood alert. I rushed home immediately and wanted to get everyone out, but by then the water outside had already risen sharply. So we first moved up to the fourth floor, but as water began reaching there too, we eventually climbed onto the roof of the building. At that moment, all I could think about was how to keep my family safe,” he recalled.
“While we were trapped in the floods, my son was at school, and the fear of what might happen to him if something happened to us kept growing. Thankfully, the intensity of the floodwaters reduced after some time, and we escaped unharmed,” he said, recounting the memories of that day. The family reportedly had to remain on the rooftop of the building for nearly an hour as the floodwaters raged, after which some local residents arrived and rescued them.
Prakash explained that the reason their house was able to withstand such a powerful flood was the care taken during its original construction. “Our house is nearly 40 years old. Back then, the quality of cement and other construction materials was better than what is available today. We also took great care and many precautions while building the house. Since we live close to the riverbank, it was built on a strong foundation, which is what allowed the building to withstand such a massive flood,” he explained. He also made clear that he was ready to continue living in the same house, though he noted that the lower floors had suffered some damage in the floods and would need repairs.