'Ran for our lives': Tales of survival from Nepal-China disaster

Nuwakot, NEPAL - Eyewitnesses recount harrowing tales of survival as the deadly floods on the Nepal-China border continue to claim lives and leave many missing. Rescue crews, utilizing helicopters, have been attempting to reach survivors stranded along the ravaged valleys. Over 1,400 individuals remain unaccounted for, many of whom are foreign tourists. More than 550 people have lost their lives due to the catastrophic event.

Sivaranjani Muthunathan, a 46-year-old traveler from India, was on a bus journey to the Chinese border with 56 others when disaster struck. She described being caught in a sudden torrent, with vehicles swept away and debris burying them. Muthunathan recounted the terrifying experience, stating, "We had no choice... We were climbing up, and we could hear what felt like explosions."

Poonguzhali Ponmambadan, a 61-year-old pilgrim, shared her harrowing experience of the flood. "We had to use my sari as a rope to lift my husband," she said, recounting how she and her husband used the sari to rescue several older individuals. Rescuers described a disaster that unfolded with terrifying speed, with at least 400 workers at the site losing their lives while many more were rescued.

The tragic event has left a trail of destruction in its wake, with residential camps completely washed away and others remaining where people took shelter. Rescuers recounted the desperate struggle to survive, with many running for their lives as mud and water reached heights of up to 6 meters. Gorakh Khatka, an engineer who survived the disaster, emphasized the terrifying speed at which the disaster unfolded, stating, "There were at least 400 workers at the site, and more people died than were rescued."