Bidur: A mango tree became a lifeline for a 24-year-old Nepali labourer after a sudden flash flood swept through Bidur on August 26, carrying water, mud and rocks through the area.
Sudden flood sweeps worker away
Bibek Kumal was working at a construction site in Bidur, downstream from Nepal’s worst-hit Rasuwa district near the border with Tibet.
Kumal was digging a toilet pit outside a newly built house when he heard what he described as a hissing sound. Before he could fully understand what was happening, a powerful torrent surged through the area and swept him away.
Labourer clings to mango tree
As the floodwaters carried him along, Kumal managed to reach and cling to a mango tree. The tree stopped him from being swept further into the raging current and ultimately became the difference between survival and tragedy.
Kumal remained clinging to the tree as floodwaters rushed around him. His account highlights how quickly conditions changed and how little time people caught in the path of a flash flood may have to find safety.
Survivor recalls terrifying ordeal
The sudden nature of the flood left Kumal facing a life-threatening situation without warning. What began as an ordinary day at a construction site turned into a desperate struggle for survival.
His decision to hold on to the mango tree helped him withstand the force of the flood until the immediate danger passed.
The incident comes amid reports of severe flooding in parts of Nepal, with Rasuwa among the areas badly affected. Kumal’s survival offers a remarkable account of how a simple tree provided crucial protection when the floodwaters swept through Bidur.