3 days ago
Bay Area Couple Escapes Nepal Flood as Death Toll Rises
A very large flood hit parts of Nepal near the border with China.
Many people died, and thousands are still missing.
Some of the missing people were foreign travelers on pilgrimages or treks.
An American couple, Anjana Raja and Pattabiraman Venkatesan, were riding in a tour bus when floodwater suddenly rushed toward them.
Anjana said the water looked like a huge wall and she thought she would die.
The couple ran uphill to escape the water and debris.
They spent the night in a goat shed with other survivors.
A helicopter rescued them the next day.
Rescue workers are still searching for missing people and helping those whose communities were damaged.
Nepal’s flood disaster has killed at least 734 people, while nearly 3,000 remain unaccounted for.
Prime Minister officials said 4,451 people have been rescued as teams search damaged communities and debris.
Anjana Raja and Pattabiraman Venkatesan said a massive wall of muddy water struck their tour bus near Timure.
The couple and other survivors ran uphill before sheltering overnight in a goat shed.
The United States said 90 Americans remain missing and five have been rescued, including travelers connected to the Isha Foundation pilgrimage.
- Who
- Nepalese residents, foreign travelers and rescue teams; among the survivors were Bay Area couple Anjana Raja and Pattabiraman Venkatesan.
- What
- Severe flooding and debris flows killed at least 734 people, left nearly 3,000 missing and forced travelers to flee for their lives.
- Where
- Near Timure and the Nepal-China border, including areas along the Trishuli River in Nepal.
- When
- The couple said the flood struck on Wednesday; they were airlifted out the following day. The report was published August 29, 2026.
- Why
- The flooding created a sudden wall of water and debris that overwhelmed roads, structures and communities.
Key facts
- Reported deaths
- At least 734 people
- People unaccounted for
- Nearly 3,000
- People rescued
- 4,451, according to Nepal’s prime minister
- Americans still missing
- 90
- Americans rescued
- Five
- Isha Foundation pilgrims missing
- About 80 people from 19 countries were unaccounted for; 22 were American nationals
- Couple’s shelter
- A mountaintop goat shed overnight before their airlift rescue
Quotes
Anjana Raja
San Francisco Bay Area traveler who survived the Nepal flood while on a pilgrimage to Tibet
“I knew I was going to die.”
indianexpress.com










