10/09/2026
đź“Ť Nuwakot Flood Response | Consented Story
Despite losing four homes, family businesses, and a lifetime of hard-earned savings to the devastating flood in Nuwakot, Goma Shrestha's determination remains unbroken.
"When everything was swept away, one thing remained, my family survived," she says.
Goma recalls the day the flood changed her life forever.
"That morning, I went to feed my chickens as usual. I gave them water and grains, but none of them touched the food. I found it strange. I was busy preparing for my great-grandson's rice feeding ceremony and did not think much about it. Looking back now, I feel they somehow sensed what was coming."
As floodwaters rose rapidly, reaching knee level within a short period, Goma had to run for safety. There was no time to save belongings, valuables, or memories. All four of her houses were swept away. The fruit shop and grocery store run by her sons were also destroyed.
"Because of approaching Janai Purnima festival, we had invested a significant amount of money to restock our shops for the festival. In a matter of moments, everything was gone."
The flood took away a lifetime of hard work, homes, and livelihoods. Yet today, sitting beside the shelter support she received, Goma still wears a smile. Her gratitude for her family's survival outweighs the pain of loss, and her courage to rebuild shines through.
"We are alive, and that gives us the strength to start again."
Goma's story reminds us that resilience is not about what remains after disaster, but about finding hope, dignity, and the determination to rebuild even when everything seems lost.
