Devighat, Trishuli, and Kathmandu, Nepal – In the aftermath of devastating flash floods that struck Nepal on August 26, ordinary citizens have mobilized to aid the affected communities, demonstrating widespread grassroots solidarity. The floods, which swept through villages and towns, left behind a thick layer of silt and debris, destroying homes and infrastructure, and displacing thousands.

Among those volunteering is Nirnaya Shrestha, a pioneering figure in Nepal’s rap and hip-hop scene, who has taken to physically clearing flood rubble in Devighat village. Joining other volunteers from Kathmandu, Nirnaya has been removing silt from damaged buildings to help survivors salvage belongings and prepare for resettlement. “This is more important than any song I can write,” he said, reflecting a shared sense of urgency and compassion.

The volunteer effort includes diverse groups such as upcycling entrepreneur Prakriti Mainali and retired police officer CP Gautam, who coordinates Mission Rebuild Nepal—a disaster response and rehabilitation organization formed after the 2015 earthquake. Gautam noted that an initial call for help quickly expanded to 80 volunteers from Kathmandu, many meeting for the first time in the field. Volunteers are focused on clearing areas that could serve as temporary shelters, helping residents regain some normalcy.

Teachers from Ghyangphedi Secondary School in Dupcheshwari village have also contributed, taking advantage of their weekly day off to clear debris from commercial buildings in Devighat. The volunteers, clad in fluorescent jackets, work under challenging conditions amid intense heat, the smell of decomposing matter, and the risk of uncovering flood victims buried in the mud. Youth groups like the Nepal Scouts have assisted in safely recovering valuable items and rescuing trapped animals.

While the national and international response has included emergency funds and technical support from governments, NGOs, and corporations, local volunteers underscore the importance of homegrown aid. Notably, Nvidia, a U.S.-based technology company, donated US$10 million to Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund, a campaign driven by Nepali employees including Vice-President Ashok Pandey.

For survivors like Bisnumaya Dongal, who lost three houses in Trishuli and Betrawati, the support of fellow Nepalis represents genuine solidarity rather than charity. Certified mountain guides, trained before as rescuers during emergencies, have worked alongside security forces to search for survivors in hazardous locations such as submerged hydropower tunnels.

Mental health professionals have also stepped up to address the psychological toll of the disaster. The group Mental Health Support Nepal has established a tent shelter at Gosok Phuntsok Choeling Monastery in Kathmandu, which is housing approximately 600 flood survivors from Syabrubesi—a village near the Nepal-Tibet border severely affected by the floods. Many families here have lost multiple relatives, prompting volunteers to provide trauma counseling and engage children through play therapy.

Bhujung Tamang, a 33-year-old trade worker and community organizer originally from Syabrubesi, has helped transform the monastery into a hub for displaced villagers. Having lost contact with more than a dozen family members, including his mother, Bhujung acknowledges the profound grief shared by survivors but emphasizes resilience. “We have to rise back up from dust,” he said after viewing his hometown’s devastation from a helicopter.

As rescue and recovery efforts continue, the combination of local initiative and international assistance offers hope to flood victims striving to rebuild their lives amid the extensive destruction.