- 97-year-old Guna Maya Bohara rescued from Nepal floods.
- Survived by keeping her head above the floodwaters.
- Her miraculous survival offers hope amidst widespread devastation.
A 97-year-old woman has been pulled from beneath the flood debris in Nepal in a miraculous rescue. Frail-bodied, covered in mud and sitting in a JCB excavator scoop, her picture has now become a symbol of hope and resilience in the disheartening and devastating floods that have claimed the lives of over 1,200 people.
According to a report by the BBC, she was pulled out from the rubble of a care home she lived in in Devighat, a town in Nuwakot. She has been identified as Guna Maya Bohara. The operation to rescue her took four hours.
Her grand-nephew, who travelled to Devighat from Kathmandu to help in rescuing her, called her a 'warrior'. He told the British broadcaster's Nepali portal that she looked like a warrior who had returned victorious from a battle.
A report by NDTV cited a volunteer saying that she survived by keeping her head above the water.
"She managed to keep her head above the water. She opened the window of the room and kept her head out, above the water level. She was rescued after 2-3 hours when local volunteers reached the area and found her submerged in silt, with just her head out," the woman was quoted as saying.
Recommended For You
Bohara's survival is no less than a miracle as her fellow mates at the care home, far less than her age, died in the tragedy. The survivors have been shifted to a temporary shelter in Kathmandu as they look towards a more uncertain life ahead.
Nepal calls floods 'Himalayan Tsunami'
According to the latest data, the death toll in the August 26 tragedy has risen to 1,252 while over 4,200 people still remain missing.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) on Thursday said that only 95 bodies have so far been identified and handed over to relatives, highlighting the continuing challenge of identifying victims.
The number of people rescued stands at around 11,993, while 5,135 injured people have received medical treatment.
Among those missing, 900 people are linked to hydroelectric projects. Nepal's Foreign Minister has called the massive floods a "Himalayan Tsunami," while thanking neighbouring countries and the international community for their support and solidarity during this difficult period.
The biggest challenge for the country is not only rescue missions but rebuilding that would consume a hefty amount of money, resources and time. According to the authorities, the country will have to rebuild around 20,000 houses in flood-ravaged areas.