Remembering Budhankhel: A Family’s Story of Loss and Resilience
By Prof. Timila Yami Thapa
Daughter of the Late Dharma Ratna Yami
Budhankhel, Kathmandu, Nepal
[Header Image Placeholder: Photo of the House Before or After the Earthquake]
Caption: Our home in Budhankhel, Kathmandu, before the earthquakes.
April 25, 2015 — When the Ground Shook and Lives Changed
At 11:56 AM on April 25, 2015, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal. For my family and me, it marked the beginning of a nightmare.
Our five-story home, a familiar landmark in Budhankhel, partially collapsed. At the time, my brother, his wife, daughter, and son were inside the third floor. In that terrifying moment, my brother’s training as a civil engineer became a lifeline. He knew which parts of the structure were more stable—and that knowledge likely saved their lives. They escaped with minor injuries.
The building cracked, but my brother’s calm thinking held us together.
A Tragedy in the Rubble
But not everyone made it out. Four of our tenants, living in a section of the house that collapsed completely, were trapped.
Rescuers later found them behind a door they couldn’t open—the latch had jammed due to the quake’s violent shaking. Their hands were still on the handle, evidence of their desperate attempt to escape. All four perished.
We mourn them not just as tenants, but as cherished lives forever etched into our memory.
[Image Placeholder: Photo of the Collapsed Section or Rubble]
Caption: The section of our house that collapsed completely, taking four lives.
May 12, 2015 — The Second Quake Destroys What Remained
Just 17 days later, on May 12, a second earthquake—measuring 7.4—shattered any remaining hopes of structural survival.
The remnants of our home collapsed. A neighboring house, already tilted by the first quake, finally gave way and crashed directly onto our compound. Massive debris blocked the only road to several homes. With no immediate rescue resources available, we waited nearly a month for the rubble to be cleared.
❝We weren’t just surrounded by debris—we were buried in memory, loss, and uncertainty.❞
A Neighborhood’s Grief, A Nation’s Pain
Our story is just one among thousands. Budhankhel, Kathmandu, and all of Nepal suffered together.
The earthquakes didn’t only destroy buildings—they fractured lives, altered futures, and demanded that we rise again from the dust.
[Image Placeholder: Community Clearing Debris or Memorial Ceremony]
Caption: Neighbors helping each other during the difficult days after the quake.
Why We Remember
To tell this story is to honor the lives lost, the resilience found, and the importance of safer futures. The trauma lives with us, but so does the strength. We share this so others remember the pain—and the perseverance.
“We thought the ground beneath us was the safest place. Then it moved.”
Call to Action or Reflection Section (Optional)
- [Share Your Memory] button for others to contribute stories
- [Support Earthquake Relief] link to rebuilding or memorial initiatives
- [Learn About Safe Building Practices] educational links or downloadable guides
In Loving Memory
To those we lost in Budhankhel and beyond—we remember you. We carry your stories forward.