After the flood: human suffering on an unfathomable scale in Nepal’s worst-hit districts
Thousands remain missing and aid is hampered by treacherous conditions in communities almost wiped out of existence
TL;DR
- Flash floods triggered by a glacier collapse have caused widespread destruction in Nepal and Tibet, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and thousands missing.
- Survivors like Dil Bahadur Shrestha are desperately searching for bodies of missing family members in the mud and debris.
- The settlement of Betrawati was engulfed in minutes, with most houses washed away or destroyed, and infrastructure like bridges and highways obliterated.
- Rescue and relief efforts are significantly hindered by the destruction of roads and bridges, making access to affected areas extremely difficult.
- Many communities, including villages like Syabru Besi, have been entirely wiped out, leaving survivors stranded and in need of evacuation.
- Children have been particularly affected, with many losing parents or disappearing on their way to school.
- Despite the tragedy, there are stories of hope, such as individuals being rescued by the army.
- The disaster has displaced many families, some of whom were already affected by the 2015 earthquake.