An Anjana Raja, a California mother from the Bay Area, described her terror and near-death experience as she and her husband, Pattabiraman Venkatesan, survived a catastrophic flash flood in Nepal. The disaster, triggered by a massive glacial rock and ice collapse, has resulted in over 600 deaths and thousands missing, including approximately 90 Americans.
Raja recounted the terrifying moments when a torrent of water, estimated to be up to 160 feet high, surged towards their bus near Nepal's border with China. "I knew I was going to die," she told CBS News, recalling the sight of a "mountain of water" mixed with mud and debris. "It stood like a serpent right there staring at us. Like a cobra’s head staring at you."
Initially on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, a sacred site for multiple religions, Raja and her husband were passengers on a bus when the driver and front passengers fled. Acting quickly, Raja grabbed her husband and urged him to leave the bus. They, along with other passengers, fled to a nearby camp and sought higher ground as the floodwaters inundated the area.
"It just came like a roar, it sucked a bunch of buses, SUVs, people, the basecamp, everything — took it in, turned it, turned it all upside down and dumped it into the ground," Raja said, describing the immense power of the flood.
Fortunately, the rising water did not reach their elevated position. They spent the night in a goat shed with other survivors before being rescued by helicopter the following day. The couple, who have since contacted their daughter in California, described their survival as a "miracle" and a profound affirmation of life. They expressed intentions to complete their pilgrimage at a later date.
The flood is believed to have been caused by the collapse of the lower part of a glacier from an estimated height of 17,000 feet, resulting in an ice avalanche. The subsequent powerful wave of water and debris swept away homes, roads, and businesses across the affected regions. While the exact cause of the glacier's collapse remains unclear, the devastation has left hundreds dead and thousands missing.
