Nepal quake reunites father with boy who was pulled out after 120hrs

Pemba Tamang was an unknown teenager struggling to stay alive till Thursday. Now he is being described as a miracle boy, after being rescued from under the debris of a guest house in Kathmandu some 120 hours after Nepal's devastating quake that killed more than 6,000.

Updated on: May 1, 2015, 20:22:38 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Pemba Tamang was an unknown teenager struggling to stay alive till Thursday. Now he is being described as a miracle boy, after being rescued from under the debris of a guest house in Kathmandu some 120 hours after Nepal's devastating quake that killed more than 6,000.

Nepal-earthquake-survivor-Pemba-Tamang-with-father-Surya-Tamang-HT-Photo

His rescue made headlines all over the world, and on Friday the news helped him reunite with his father! The two had lost contact for over a month when the 15-year-old fled home.

"He had left home more than a month ago and there was no trace. It was only after his rescue I came to know that he is alive and rushed to meet him at the hospital," said Pemba's father, Surya Tamang, a taxi driver.

The teenager had run away from the family's rented house in Kathmandu and was working as an errand boy in a guest house in Gongabu area of the capital. He had finished his lunch when the quake struck last Saturday.

Pemba Tamang, buried for 120 hours, was pulled up alive on Thursday. (Reuters)

"I wasn't able to rush out and got trapped. I was very afraid at first but it didn't bother me later. There were other people trapped in the building and I heard their cries for help," said Pemba.

Doctors attending the teen say he is in good shape, though dehydrated and hungry. Pemba claims to have survived on a jar of ghee and by drinking water by wringing wet facial wipes.

With his ordeal over, Pemba and his father have decided to stay together in Kathmandu.

"Despite my attempts to fulfill his demands, he was not interested in studies and would keep disappearing from home. Now I'll ensure that he doesn't run away again," said Surya.

Read:

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In quake-hit Nepal, victims need help to heal emotional scar

In Nepal’s biggest earthquake camp, another disaster in making

Survivors feel abandoned at dark heart of Nepal earthquake

Live visuals of Nepal earthquake: The disaster captured in 5 videos

Full coverage:Nepal Earthquake

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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