The Bhutanese Leading the way.
When the storm hit Dechencholing on 10 August, it didn’t just bring the rain—it brought chaos. But amid the flooding and fear, two individuals emerged, whose bravery has touched many hearts.
Prakash Sewa, 28, and nephew Lakash Darjee, 21, were caught in the middle of the disaster while trying to moving furniture in Prakash’s elder sister’s restaurant. They were taking a lunch break when the rain turned into a heavy downpour.
“We were just sitting there, thinking the noise was thunder, when my sister suddenly shouted for us to run,” Prakash recalled, his eyes still reflecting the shock of that day. “Before we could react, a car was swept into the restaurant entrance, blocking our way out. We were trapped.”
Within minutes, the restaurant was flooded, turning their safe haven into a dangerous trap. Prakash and his family, along with the restaurant’s customers, were left scrambling for a way out. “The main entrance was blocked, and the water was rising so fast as it slowly reached to our chest level. We tried breaking the windows, but it didn’t work,” Prakash said, recollecting those moment. “We had kids with us, and it was getting harder to keep them calm.”
In the chaos, Prakash’s training as a DeSuup proved to be a lifeline. “The training we received helped us to stay focused and think clearly,” he said. His nephew Lakash, also an active DeSuup volunteer, was helpful in the rescue.
Prakash had to break the toilet window with his leg which led to a cut on his foot. An Indian worker passed him a bamboo pole through the window, which helped Lakash lead the way out. He then got planks to help others trapped in the building.
Once they managed to get outside and were halfway to safety, others helped them. They took the kids, which allowed Prakash to finally breathe a little easier.
During that intense moment, he shared that there weren’t many around who could assist them. Most people had already fled before the situation worsened. Although they could see others on the other side and called for help, no one could come to their aid, likely due to the challenging conditions outside.
“Had it been just me, I might have found another way to escape, but I had to think about my family and the other customers as well.” With four small children trapped with him, they had to keep them supported above the chest-high, muddy water.
“If we had been stuck for just a little longer, I don’t think we would have made it,” Prakash admitted. The situation outside was no less harrowing. They had to pass the kids along to safety, one by one.
What makes their story even more moving is how chance played a role in their survival. Prakash was supposed to attend a family funeral that day, but last-minute changes meant he stayed behind. His son also didn’t attend his school celebration that day, which kept them together during the crisis.
After they escaped, Lakash volunteered and worked with other DeSuup volunteers.
Prakash shared similar action he took during a fire at a restaurant in Gidagom. When the fire started and seemed like it might get worse, he didn’t hesitate. He jumped in to turn off the gas and put out the flames before it could spread. “Everyone else was caught up in trying to save their own stuff, and the restaurant owner was calling for help, but nobody was stepping up,” Prakash recalled. “I just saw that the fire wasn’t too big yet, so I did what I could during that situation.”
As the floodwaters began to recede, the response from the community was overwhelming.
The Royal Bhutan Army (RBA), Royal Body Guard (RBG), Royal Bhutan Police (RBP), and DeSuung, alongside other volunteers, rallied together to provide aid. They deployed around a thousand volunteers to help with rescues, distribute clean water, build temporary toilets, and relocate people from danger zones.
Even some RBG soldiers found their own homes damaged by the flood, but they continued to assist and stay on duty despite their personal losses.
Prakash and Lakash’s bravery are a reminder of the strength found in community and preparation. Their story of courage during one of Dechencholing’s darkest hours is a beacon of hope, showing that even in the face of overwhelming odds, the human spirit can shine brightly.
