A house painted green has become an unlikely symbol of survival in Nepal, remaining largely intact after raging floodwaters destroyed nearly everything around it. Jaw-dropping footage emerged from the disaster showing torrents of water, debris, and wreckage tearing through a village, while the small, two-story home stood firm.
The cascading floodwaters surged through the ground floor of the house, ripping away its doors and windows, but the main structure remarkably withstood the onslaught. In contrast, neighboring homes were torn apart, and large structures and vehicles were swept away by the powerful current.
Three people, identified as members of the family living in the house, appeared on the balcony, trembling in fear as they witnessed the devastation. The family, including parents Laxmi Pandey Pyakurel, 42, and Prakash Pandey Pyakurel, 45, their two children, Laxmi's parents-in-law, and a neighbor, were trapped for hours.
"We saw death very closely. Death was staring at every one of us," Laxmi Pandey Pyakurel told the UK Telegraph. "We thought these were our final moments. I told everyone that if we had to die, we would die together."
The family had to move to higher levels within the house as water rushed in, shouting for help. Laxmi recalled attempting to call relatives to say goodbye, but the telephone signal was difficult, preventing clear communication.
"As the floodwater was hitting the house, we were thinking we would get swept away along with it," she said. "With every pounding our hearts will sink. We held together with the hope to live, but were preparing ourselves to die together."
Their seven-year-old son, Prayan, had left for school minutes before the floodwaters hit, while their 11-year-old daughter, Pradisha, was preparing to leave with her grandmother, Bhakta Kumari, 65. Thankfully, both children and the rest of the family survived. Prayan's school was located in a safe area.
The floodwaters and landslides occurred on Monday, August 31, 2026, in the Trishuli River area of the Nuwakot district. The disaster has surpassed 900 deaths, with an estimated 4,500 people reported missing, including 43 Australians.
Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Matt Thistlethwaite stated that authorities are continuing efforts to locate the missing Australians. Embassy staff in Kathmandu have been augmented with additional personnel to assist in these efforts. The Australian ambassador has been meeting with relatives of those unaccounted for.