KATHMANDU, June 27: It was past 10 on a rainy Wednesday night in Kathmandu, and most of the city was winding down. But near Ward No. 6 of Tokha Municipality, behind Grande Hospital, the Bishnumati River had other plans.
A chilling moment unfolded when a white private car (Ba. Pra. 01–031 Cha 6141), driven by Ankush Singh of Dhumbarahi, veered off the road and plunged into the surging river. Singh managed to leap out of the vehicle in time, swimming to safety. But to his horror—and that of onlookers—a woman remained trapped inside as the current began to carry the car away.
That woman was Bhawana Oli, a resident of Tokha. Trapped in a metal cage now at the mercy of a rain-swollen river, her survival depended not on luck, but on courage—courage that came rushing from the neighbourhood and the nearest police stations.
What happened next was nothing short of heroic.
Bishnumati River cleaning campaign begins
Local residents, upon hearing the crash and Singh’s frantic shouts, didn’t wait for instructions. Calls were made, ropes were gathered, and hearts raced. Within minutes, a police team from Tokha Police Station and Maharajgunj Police Circle arrived on the scene. The situation was dire: the river was fast and furious, and time was vanishing with every metre the car floated downstream.
Despite the risks, three police officers—Head Constable Umesh Kumar Lohani, Assistant Head Constable Samir B.K. and Constable Suman Thapa—joined hands with two young locals, 19-year-old Arjun Gurung and 29-year old Raju Tamang of Lamjung to wade into the swollen stream with nothing but a rope between them and the gushing river. The group formed a human chain, battling the current and managed to reach the partially submerged vehicle. With immense effort and coordination, they pulled Bhawana Oli out and brought her safety.
The rescue was a rare moment of harmony in chaos, of instinctive bravery over hesitation. And it did not go unnoticed.
On Thursday, in a heartfelt ceremony at the District Police Range Kathmandu, all five rescuers were honoured with commendation certificates and prizes. Kathmandu Police Chief SSP Bishwa Adhikari, speaking during the event, praised the group for their extraordinary bravery and the seamless cooperation between citizens and law enforcement.
“Saving even a single life during a disaster is a tremendous achievement,” SSP Adhikari said. “This rescue highlights what can be achieved when the community and police act as one.”
He further noted that the success was also thanks in part to "Operation Prepare," a police initiative that had pre-positioned rescue materials in high-risk areas.
The honourees, humble and a little overwhelmed by the spotlight, deflected praise. They said that they just did what anyone should do when someone is in need of help.
For Bhawana Oli, the night that could have taken her life became a reminder of humanity's enduring goodness. And for Kathmandu, it was a story of quiet courage—of people who didn’t wait for the storm to pass but ran into it to bring someone home.
