Grapevine man brings aid to Nepal after deadly floods devastate villages

Bal Joshi returned to his native Nepal with hygiene supplies for girls and young women affected by the disaster.

A Grapevine man is helping victims of deadly flooding in Nepal, returning to the country where he was born to deliver supplies and support to devastated communities.

The recent floods caused an estimated more than $2.5 billion in damage, with nearly 1,500 people dead and thousands more still missing.

“Look at this, like a war torn,” Bal Joshi said.

Joshi, founder of the One Step Foundation, traveled into areas of Nepal devastated by the disaster, at times going as far as he could on foot.

“This is where the last point we could reach by foot,” Joshi said.

Last month, a glacier collapse caused deadly flooding that wiped out villages in Nepal.

“It happened so fast they couldn't even comprehend what actually happened,” Joshi said. “When we saw the devastation, the damage, the displaced life in Nepal, we could not resist but to act.”

Joshi was born in Nepal and has made his heritage part of other challenges he has taken on.

Earlier this year, he wore traditional attire while running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents as part of the World Marathon Challenge, earning a Guinness World Record.

“There is a saying, right, the way you do anything is the way you do everything,” Joshi said.

For Joshi, that means putting one foot in front of the other to reach a goal. This time, his goal was helping flood victims.

Joshi brought “dignity boxes” containing diapers, hygiene supplies and sanitary products for girls and young women.

“Anyone could send money; anyone could send dollars, but sending feelings and compassion, understanding that it requires you to be there, it requires your presence,” Joshi said.

For Joshi, the trip was also an opportunity to see the faces of those affected, witness what had been lost, and create a connection between northern Nepal and North Texas.

“I don't think we can just watch this on the news and oh that happened it think its our civic responsibility as a human we all are connected,” Joshi said.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.