Survivors recount how Nepal landslides, floods swept away once-bustling bazaar

In central Nepal, a devastating mudslide and flood swept through the once-bustling bazaar of Devighat in Nuwakot district, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Santosh Thapa, whose family narrowly escaped the disaster, recounted how they heard an ear-piercing noise and saw a flood of mud and water rushing towards them. They fled on a motorcycle, managing to escape in just one or two minutes.

Thapa's grandfather once ran a shop on the ground floor of their house, but it was now buried under nine meters of mud, along with the first and second floors. The entire household, worth years of accumulation, was destroyed. About 300 households were affected, but only the elderly remained in the village, with their children living in Kathmandu.

The situation in the main town of Bidur was equally dire, with the main street, Trishuli Bazar, almost completely buried under thick grey mud. Bridges connecting the town were washed away, leaving some villagers unable to return home. Rescue operations were ongoing, but difficulties arose as roads and critical bridges were swept away, disrupting efforts.

Telecommunications networks had completely broken down, and electricity was yet to be restored in the affected areas. Officials have recovered 734 bodies and identified 2,498 people as missing. The World Health Organization warned of the increased risk of infectious diseases due to displacement, overcrowding, and disruption of health services.