stranger than heaven: Earthquake Survivor Rescued After 11 Days, Miraculously Alive in Nepal Debris
KATHMANDU, Nepal — In an event described as stranger than heaven by rescue workers, a 45-year-old man was pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed apartment building in Kathmandu on Wednesday, 11 days after a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the region. Local officials confirmed the survivor, identified as Rajesh Sharma, was trapped beneath concrete slabs and debris without food or water, but maintained a small air pocket that sustained him. The rescue operation, involving international teams and sniffer dogs, concluded at 6:15 PM local time after 45 hours of continuous digging. Medical personnel treated Sharma for dehydration, minor injuries, and shock at a field hospital, where he is in stable condition. Authorities stated the probability of finding further survivors this long after the quake is extremely low, with over 8,000 confirmed fatalities and 20,000 injured across Nepal. The incident has heightened focus on delayed rescue efforts and inadequate building standards in the region.