San Francisco Couple Survives Nepal-Tibet Floods as Hundreds Missed

A San Francisco couple recounted their terrifying experience during flash floods at the Nepal-Tibet border. The disaster has claimed at least 600 lives and left over 3,000 missing. Anjana Raja described her fear saying, “I knew I was going to die,” as water from a collapsed Himalayan glacier surged down the valleys.

Rescue operations are underway for the fourth day after the floods on Wednesday, August 26, which impacted numerous settlements along the Trishuli River. Nepali authorities reported on Saturday that the combined death toll reached 676 with nearly 3,000 people unaccounted for, including about 90 Americans. Many missing individuals were pilgrims headed to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a site revered by Hindus, Buddhists, and others. Efforts are being made to contact the U.S. State Department regarding missing American citizens.

Secondary Health Risks For Displaced People

Dan Hovey, Vice President of Global Emergency Response at Direct Relief, voiced concerns over secondary health risks. “Crowded shelters, limited access to clean water, and disrupted sanitation heighten the risk of communicable diseases,” he explained. Vulnerable groups such as children, elderly, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing health issues are particularly at risk. Nepal’s tough terrain and damaged infrastructure further complicate reaching affected communities and delivering medical supplies.

Four days after a disaster of this magnitude, priorities include treating the injured and ensuring medical teams have the necessary supplies to provide emergency care.

Raja and Venkatesan’s Narrow Escape

Raja and her partner, Pattabiraman Venkatesan, were on a pilgrimage to Tibet. Their bus stop in Nepal’s Rasuwa District exposed them to what Venkatesan described as a “monster thing,” initially perceiving it as fire rather than water. Raja quickly reacted, imploring Venkatesan to run while chaos unfolded around them. They witnessed devastation, with homes disintegrating and people swept away.

Guided to safety, they spent a night in a mountain top goat shed with other survivors before being airlifted to safety the next day. Remarkably, everyone from their bus survived, which Venkatesan considered a miracle.

American Citizens Among the Missing

As families pleaded for information on social media, the plight of Americans like Jitendra Patel and Venus Rajnikant Patel exemplified the uncertainties faced. Jitendra’s son Sunny Patel last communicated minutes before the flood onset. Venus, recently relocated to Cincinnati, has been out of contact since just prior to the incident.

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal outlined rescue priorities of locating the missing and delivering immediate relief. Over 4,451 individuals have been rescued, including 187 foreign nationals. Authorities remain vigilant due to potential further flooding from a newly formed lake, ready to evacuate if necessary.