Nepal: Swept away by a flash flood, a worker clings to a mango tree and escapes death

He was being swept away by a torrent of mud when a mango tree offered him a last chance. Bibek Kumal, a 24-year-old Nepalese laborer, survived a violent flash flood by clinging to the tree's branches as the current swept away everything in its path.

The incident occurred in Bidur, northwest of Kathmandu. Bibek Kumal was working in a pit about 1,5 meters deep when the floodwaters suddenly inundated the area. His colleagues managed to escape, but he didn't have time to take shelter.

He tried to run, but the current caught up with him. In a few moments, the young man was swept downstream, amidst mud, rocks and debris.

That's when he spotted the mango tree. He grabbed onto its branches and held on while the raging waters continued to ravage the surrounding area. From that tree, he watched the house he was working on disappear, swept away by the flood.

For several minutes, Bibek Kumal remained hanging from the mango tree, waiting for help to arrive. Police officers finally managed to reach him and bring him to safety.

Taken to Kathmandu, the young worker suffered an injury to his right leg, caused by the force of the current and the impact with a large stone. His life, however, was spared.

From his hospital bed, Bibek Kumal leaves little room for doubt about what allowed him to survive. In the flood that swept away houses and debris, it was this tree that stood between him and death.

The disaster has since claimed at least 584 lives and left nearly 2,500 people missing. Search and rescue operations are continuing in the affected areas.

Yolande Bazié