Express in Nepal: At search and rescue hub, helicopters, stench of death

On Wednesday morning, Milan Kharil, a 32-year-old geologist engineer, warned a junior colleague of an impending flood at the Trishuli 1 hydropower plant. Twenty-four minutes later, his phone location was recorded. Tragically, Milan remains missing. His sister, Priya, remains hopeful for his survival. The military training center in Trishuli, serving as a search and rescue hub, has rescued numerous individuals.

Among the rescued were school children and Indian nationals. The death toll stands at 579, with 1,924 still unaccounted for. Indian nationals make up 320 of these missing individuals. Survivors included 45-year-old Ramesh Chaudhary and 43-year-old Bepali Tharu, who had initially headed to a funeral before being caught in the flood.

The military camp is dotted with helicopters, with 16 army and private helicopters operating continuously. Army doctors report seeing crush injuries, though serious injuries are airlifted to Kathmandu. The stench of death hangs in the air, and a demarcated area near the entrance holds bodies wrapped in tarpaulin. Hundreds of people, including families seeking their loved ones, make their way to the camp daily. Security personnel warn of a potential second flood after reports of a second lake break.