A couple from the San Francisco Bay Area recounted their harrowing experience of nearly losing their lives during a pilgrimage to Tibet. When catastrophic flash floods hit the Nepal-Tibet border, they faced what they described as a mountain of water hurtling towards them.

The disaster began when a Himalayan glacier collapsed on Wednesday, unleashing torrents of water that have tragically resulted in nearly 600 fatalities. An estimated 2,500 individuals remain missing, with search and rescue teams tirelessly looking for survivors.

“I knew I was going to die,” said Anjana Raja, recounting the terrifying moment she faced the incoming deluge.

Among those missing are approximately 90 Americans, according to the U.S. State Department. When the avalanche of water descended from the Himalayas, the village of Timure in Nepal was one of the first areas impacted. Raja and her partner, Pattabiraman Venkatesan, were near this village with their tour group.

The couple had arrived for their first pilgrimage to Tibet. They were on a bus in Nepal’s Rasuwa District, close to the Nepal-China border when they witnessed what appeared to be a tsunami. Venkatesan described it as a “dark black” wall of water, initially mistaking it for a forest fire.

In a desperate bid for survival, Raja pulled Venkatesan from the bus, urging him to run. Chaos ensued as thousands fled for safety, with cell phone footage capturing some being engulfed by the floodwaters while others managed to reach higher ground and awaited airlift rescue.

The couple climbed up narrow, slippery steps alongside other evacuees, dodging falling debris and collapsing houses. Upon reaching a secure area, they spent the night on a mountain peak, taking refuge in a goat shed. Despite the treacherous climb, everyone on their tour bus survived.

Expressing gratitude for their survival, Venkatesan remarked on the ordeal’s life-changing impact. He shared his renewed philosophy: “Be good, do good, think good, and leave the rest to whoever is above us.”