Local journalist witnesses his childhood hometown vanish under floodwaters

Devastating floodwaters on Wednesday morning completely erased generations of history in Nepal. Surging currents in the Trishuli River climbed nearly 100 meters above normal levels to destroy entire communities in the Nuwakot district. Journalist Arjun Poudel experienced this horror firsthand when frantic phone calls revealed his hometown of Sole Bazaar was entirely gone. Himalayan regions face increasing risks from unpredictable, climate-driven weather extremes that trigger sudden disasters like this one.

Historic Sites Washed Away

Betrawati Bazaar previously stood as a vibrant commercial and cultural heart for nearby communities. This town famously hosted the signing of a historic peace treaty between Nepal and Tibet. Pilgrims regularly flocked to its sacred temples and the Uttar Ganga dham site to honour their ancestors. Today, surviving teachers in the area estimate that 90 percent of the houses in Betrawati no longer exist.

Decades of vital infrastructure collapsed in minutes. Floodwaters swallowed the local hydropower station headgate, plunging the entire district into darkness. Old structures, including a crucial bridge built in 2024 BS, disappeared alongside every suspension bridge crossing the river.

Complete Isolation for Survivors

Survivors now navigate a terrifying reality without road access, internet connectivity, or electricity. Displaced residents who scrambled up steep cliffs remain stranded with nowhere to go. Local grain mills vanished along with daily markets, leaving families completely unable to process stored food or buy essential items like salt. Poudel frantically tried contacting his neighbours, only to learn his aunts, cousins, and maternal uncle were swept away by the raging currents. Relatives working abroad returned to find their entire communities erased before they even arrived.

Desperate Need for Rescue Operations​​​​​​​

Rescue helicopters remain incredibly scarce across the affected zones. Injured villagers cannot reach the district hospital at Baghtar because all connecting roads are gone. People who travelled to the district headquarters earlier that morning are now trapped there, unable to return home. Authorities face extreme logistical challenges in reaching entirely isolated settlements like Bhairamkot, Kispang, and Tharpu. Emergency teams must focus on locating trapped survivors before displaced families can even begin grieving for their lost relatives.

Source: The Kathmandu Post