Two girls survived Nepal’s 2015 earthquake. Each lost a leg but found a friendship.

By Niranjan Shrestha, Binaj Gurubacharya and Mansingh Upendra

Ten years ago, Kathmandu-based photographer Niranjan Shrestha was covering the aftermath of Nepal’s devastating earthquake when he captured a moment that stayed with him forever. At a hospital, he witnessed 7-year-old Nirmala Pariyar comforting 8-year-old Khendo Tamang. “You’ve lost one leg, and so have I. But we survived. Isn’t that beautiful?” Nirmala said.

Emotionally drained from covering widespread loss and destruction, Shrestha immediately realized that these two girls were extraordinary. Amid the trauma, he gained the trust of both families and began documenting their lives. Khendo, the quieter of the two, had lost eight family members.

Over the years, Shrestha returned often — not always with a camera — sometimes just to cheer them on as they adjusted to prosthetics, learned to walk again, and outgrew old limbs. His early photos of the girls led to an NGO providing them with free education through high school.

Now young women, Nirmala and Khendo agreed to revisit their story for the 10-year anniversary of the quake. Shrestha invited text reporter Binaj Gurubacharya and video journalist Mansingh Upendra to join him in chronicling the friendship and resilience that carried the girls through years of healing and growth.

Judges praised Shrestha for recognizing the power of that first interaction, and for his courage, care, and commitment in maintaining a respectful, decade-long relationship with the families.

For telling an incredibly moving and enduring human story from the Nepal disaster, Niranjan Shrestha, Binaj Gurubacharya and Mansingh Upendra earn this week’s Best of AP — First Winner.

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