A woman believed to have died during Nepal’s devastating floods has been found alive more than a week later after rescuers discovered her trapped inside the remains of her collapsed home.
The woman, identified as Chandika Kumari Shrestha, was rescued from a small air pocket beneath mud and debris in the flood-destroyed village of Betrawati.
Her family had already begun mourning rituals after believing she was among the victims of the disaster.
Rescuers Hear Voice From Collapsed Building
Police officer Mahendra Darnal said rescue teams discovered Shrestha after hearing a faint voice while searching through the remains of damaged buildings.
According to Darnal, the woman’s four-storey house had been swept away by floodwaters and left surrounded by unstable mud.
While moving around the destroyed structure, rescuers heard someone calling for help.
45-Minute Rescue Operation
A rescue operation lasting about 45 minutes was launched on Saturday.
Darnal and his team managed to reach Shrestha through a confined space inside the collapsed structure before taking her to an army hospital for medical attention.
The officer said the discovery was unexpected because Shrestha’s relatives had already started an 11-day mourning period.
“I was in touch with the family and they had started the mourning period,” Darnal said.
Among Hundreds Missing After Nepal Floods
Shrestha was among hundreds of people reported missing after severe flooding devastated parts of Nepal.
Betrawati, one of the worst-hit communities, was left covered with thick layers of mud and debris that hardened almost like concrete.
Many residential buildings and parts of the local market were buried after torrents swept through the valley.
Rescue Teams Continue Searching for Survivors
Emergency workers are continuing search operations across affected areas.
Rescuers wearing protective helmets have been digging through collapsed structures with shovels while others crawl through narrow openings, using whistles to detect possible survivors.
Authorities are still recovering bodies from the disaster zone.
More Than 1,300 People Killed
The floods and landslides have caused widespread destruction across Nepal, killing more than 1,300 people.
Thousands of others remain missing as rescue and recovery operations continue.
Five days before Shrestha’s rescue, authorities recovered 24 decomposed bodies from a building in Betrawati’s market area that had previously housed a small shop.
