When floods triggered by incessant rainfall this week gushed into homes and began sweeping people away, many residents in the flood-hit regions in the Tarai were caught flat footed. Many had checked on the water levels at nearby rivers before going to bed, assured that they were not in imminent danger. But when the rivers began to overflow their banks, the waters swelled so quickly that even those who had anticipated an impending disaster were left scrambling. And while the floods left widespread devastation in their wake, the number of casualties could have been much higher were it not for quick-thinking citizens rising to the occasion to save their families and neighbours. These are three such stories:   By Chandan Kumar Mandal

Netra Bahadur Basnet 

Age: 36

Gairigaun-4, Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City

I am a driver by profession and I had had a long day. I went to bed at 11pm after checking on the Budhi Khola—which was raging but had not risen significantly yet. Later that night, when my neighbours came to wake me up, the river had already flooded the streets from all sides. The first thing I did was move my family of nine and our livestock up to our roof. Once on the roof, I could hear some of my neighbours crying for help. I could distinctly hear an elderly couple, my neighbours, screaming—they were trapped in their house and unable to make an escape, the water was already gushing into homes. So, I climbed from one roof to another, and broke into their house through their roof, and helped them climb to safety. But my work was not done. I could still hear children wailing. Because the power had been cut off, I then moved from one house to another by clinging on to the electricity lines to reach some of my neighbours who were still stranded. With so many lives of children and the elderly at stake, I didn’t have to think if it was worth risking my own life to save theirs. My friend, Jeevan Limbu, was doing the same—moving from one house to another using the electricity lines—and seeing him do so helped me keep going. In the morning, I was told that I rescued 10 people from their homes, but I wasn’t counting. 

Hari Narayan Acharya

Age: 72 

Sundar Haraichasar, Morang

I live in an old age home that is housed at the Shree Laxmi Narayan tatha Ram Panchayan Mandir here. The temple lies right on the river bank. Most residents were sound asleep when the flood waters came pouring into the buildings. Three elderly women, my co-residents, lost their lives to the flood. I and an older friend were close to losing ours too. When the waters came in to sweep us away, I clutched on to my friend with one hand and grabbed a railing with another to save our lives. I refused to let go even when my hands were exhausted and the railings were bent as a result of the struggle. My friend is older than me and frailer, he would have not survived had I let go. I held on for at least half an hour if not more, before a young man from the neighbourhood came to our rescue after hearing our cries. I couldn’t let go of my friend at such a critical moment. There was no point saving my life, if I could not save his as well. We’ve lived long lives, but this was by far the scariest incident we have experienced. We are just glad we’ve lived to talk about it.

Sal Maya Tamang

Age: 36 

Gairigaun-4, Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City

My husband is a migrant worker. I live with my three daughters and a son. I had gone outside to use the bathroom when I realised that a flood was imminent. The water rose so fast that by the time I went inside to save my children, the water was already waist-deep. It had already swept two of my daughters away. I was horrified. I first safeguarded my son and one daughter who were still inside the house by tying them to the door and then swam outside to rescue the other two. I had to save them; I was not going to let the water swallow my children. As a child, growing up in the hills, I had fortunately learnt how to swim. Just thinking about what could have happened that night had I not swam extensively in rivers in my childhood sends chills down my spine.  We survived the night but surviving the days ahead seems even more challenging. Our lives is all we could save, we lost food, clothes and everything else to the flood. I am not even wearing my own clothes and we are taking refuge and eating at a local temple. The other day, I stayed in the queue for clothes that was being distributed, but in vain. They ran out of it just as my turn came. Let’s see what happens next. I have contacted my husband through Facebook but there’s only so much he or anyone can do for us at the moment.