Two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) had already been relieved of their duties, and the Chief District Officer (CDO) was on leave. This left the district’s security command solely in the hands of Superintendent of Police (SP) Basundhara Khadka. At a time when security itself was already a challenge, a sudden disaster struck.
Relentless rainfall triggered massive floods and landslides, causing severe destruction. The devastation was not just physical but also led to a significant loss of life. In such a dire situation, there was no option but to confront the disaster head-on—despite the lack of resources and manpower. Amidst these extreme conditions, SP Basundhara Khadka stood firm, leading an exceptional disaster response effort.
Taking charge amid crisis
SP Khadka had been leading the Kavre District Police Office for seven months. At the time, DSP Rajkumar Shrestha was stationed in the district, while DSP Lal Dhwaj Subedi oversaw the Banepa Area Police Office.
On October 11, 2024 (Asoj 11), a Friday, SP Khadka was preparing to bid farewell to the outgoing DSPs, who were set to be transferred. However, police headquarters issued an urgent order for their immediate departure, and by 11 AM, both DSPs had left.
As a police officer, taking leave during festivals is a rarity. Khadka’s husband, also a police officer, was posted in Rautahat. Planning to visit him with her child for a four-day leave, she was ready to depart when disaster struck—forcing her to cancel her leave and jump into action to protect lives and manage rescue operations.
Immediate response to disaster
Just as she decided to stay, at around 3 PM, Inspector Krishna Giri from the Mangaltar Area Police Office called, reporting that a culvert on the Mamti road had been washed away by floods. This culvert, installed in coordination with the local government, was a key part of the BP Highway.
Realising the potential consequences, SP Khadka immediately contacted Sindhuli and Kathmandu police, instructing them to halt vehicle movements. She later reflected on this quick decision as a crucial moment in disaster mitigation.
“If we hadn’t received timely information about the culvert being washed away, heavy vehicle movement could have led to catastrophic human casualties on the highway,” she recalled.
Her instincts proved right—on the same day, landslides triggered by heavy rainfall buried a passenger bus on the Nagdhunga road section, causing multiple casualties. This led the government to take disciplinary action against the SP and CDO of Dhading district. In stark contrast, SP Khadka was recognised for her exceptional crisis management and was awarded the ‘Best Disaster Manager’ award by the Bagmati Province Police Office on Police Day.
Unwavering leadership in adverse conditions
As reports of destruction continued to pour in, the challenges mounted. On the night of October 11, 2024 at around 11:30 PM, reports emerged of people being buried in Bethanchok. With no communication infrastructure available—the power was down, and the NTC tower was out—Khadka found herself virtually alone in command.
“I realised I was the only one left to handle the situation. That sense of responsibility pushed me to work even harder. Looking back, I’m amazed at how we managed it all,” she said.
Recognising the need for structured response efforts, she convened an emergency disaster management meeting at 9 AM the next day. Despite the lack of electricity, her team manually recorded information and coordinated with local authorities, eventually securing a generator to restore minimal communication.
During this period, newly appointed CDO Umesh Dhakal and DSP Meen Ghale (transferred from Lamjung) arrived in Kavre, easing some of the burden Khadka had shouldered alone for three days. The next phase of operations focused on post-disaster recovery.
Drawing from experience to save lives
SP Khadka’s prior experience played a vital role in managing the crisis. She had previously worked at the police headquarters during the 2015 earthquake, leading the ‘Foreign Nationals Desk’—which managed data on missing persons, casualties, and hospitalisations. Additionally, she had served in UN missions in conflict-torn countries like Haiti, Sudan, South Sudan, Congo, and Libya.
“During a disaster, the most crucial factor is information management. Accurate and timely information helps create an effective action plan, minimising casualties,” she explained. However, the lack of communication during this crisis made the situation significantly more challenging.
As roads became impassable, thousands of travelers were stranded. While some injured and vulnerable individuals—pregnant women, the elderly, and those in critical condition—were airlifted by helicopters, others had to be transported via land routes. Through coordinated efforts, her team facilitated the evacuation of nearly 8,000 people from the BP Highway, where 700 vehicles had been trapped.
She ensured that food and water were distributed to stranded travelers, even using police rations when necessary. “At one point, our own officers were left without food,” she recalled.
A heartbreaking call and a life-saving decision
Amid thousands of distress calls, one phone call still haunts her.
She answered a call from an unknown number, only to hear a child crying. “Please save my mother. I don’t know where my father is. Please send a helicopter for her,” the child pleaded.
The call came from Roshi Rural Municipality-5, where a house had collapsed. The father had managed to escape, but the mother was trapped—half-buried and unable to move. The presence of weeping children on-site only added to the distress.
SP Khadka had already dispatched a helicopter, but due to the terrain, it couldn’t land. A second, smaller helicopter faced the same issue. This led to the desperate call from the children.
Determined to save the woman, she arranged for ‘telemedicine’—connecting a local health worker with a doctor via phone. The doctor guided them in performing a life-saving procedure to drain the woman’s bladder, stabilizing her condition until she was successfully airlifted to safety.
From aspiring diplomat to crisis commander
Born and raised in Lalitpur, SP Khadka’s early life was comfortable. Her father, a civil servant, wanted her to follow in his footsteps, preferably in the foreign service. She had even prepared to study in the US, but her father encouraged her to stay in Nepal and pursue a meaningful career.
It was a magazine story about a female police officer, Bimala Thapa (who later retired as a DIG), that caught her attention. “Reading her biography inspired me to join the police force,” she said.
From an aspiring diplomat to a frontline disaster responder, SP Basundhara Khadka’s journey exemplifies courage, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to saving lives in times of crisis.
