‘Miracle house’ that stood firm as floods devastated Nepal hailed as symbol of survival

A turquoise-coloured house in Nepal has emerged as a striking symbol of survival after catastrophic flash floods swept through the Trishuli area, destroying homes, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

The house, located in Trishuli Bazaar in Nuwakot district, has been dubbed the “miracle house” and the “green house” on social media after images and videos showed it standing almost intact amid widespread destruction.

Footage recorded during the disaster showed powerful torrents of water, mud and debris surging through the lower floors of the reinforced-concrete building. Doors and windows were destroyed and the lower levels were filled with mud, but the building’s main structure remained standing.

The residents, identified as Prakash Pandey Pyakurel, 45, his wife, their two children and his elderly parents, survived the disaster unharmed after sheltering on the upper floors.

The family had been caught in the chaos as the floods struck. Prakash and his wife were at a nearby shop, while their seven-year-old son had left for school just 15 minutes earlier. Their 11-year-old daughter was preparing to leave when the disaster unfolded.

The devastating floods followed the collapse of a section of a Himalayan glacier near the Nepal-China border, unleashing torrents of water carrying huge rocks, trees and mud into downstream communities.

The disaster caused widespread destruction across Nepal and China, with the reported death toll reaching 908 and more than 3,000 people reported missing.

Amid the devastation, the remarkable survival of the turquoise house has drawn widespread attention, with many praising its reinforced-concrete construction and structural resilience in the face of the unprecedented floodwaters.