As floodwaters continue to recede from parts of Nepal devastated by the catastrophic flash floods, the true scale of the destruction is becoming increasingly visible. Thick layers of mud, debris and widespread damage now cover the affected areas. As of Sunday, 12 days after the disaster, Nepal’s official death toll had reached 1,369, while around 5,000 people remained unaccounted for.
Bidur in Nuwakot, one of the districts worst hit by the floods, has been left almost unrecognisable. What was once a busy city has been transformed into an eerie, deserted landscape marked by destruction.
Bidur has, however, become accessible on foot again as the water level in the Trishuli River continues to fall.
RACE AGAINST TIME TO RECOVER BODIES
A foul smell has begun to spread across flood-hit areas, serving as a grim indication of the disaster’s magnitude. With temperatures rising, concerns are mounting that the bodies of those still missing could be trapped beneath rubble or buried in thick layers of mud.
For rescue teams, recovering the remains is both a humanitarian responsibility and a race against time. Rising temperatures could accelerate decomposition, potentially increasing the spread of disease and creating a serious public health threat.
Search and recovery efforts are continuing despite increasingly challenging and hazardous conditions. Teams are carrying out painstaking door-to-door searches, inspecting buildings and gathering whatever information they can in the hope of finding survivors or locating the remains of people who are still missing.
For families awaiting news, the situation has become increasingly painful. Relatives continue moving from place to place, holding on to the hope of finding any clue or information about their missing loved ones.
BRIDGE WASHED AWAY IN BIDUR
A large concrete bridge that once linked two parts of Bidur has been completely destroyed by the floods. Several riverside villages were also swept away, leaving homes, a police post, a school and other buildings buried beneath piles of debris.
The devastated stretch was once one of the busiest sections of the route used by pilgrims travelling towards Mansarovar. It now stands as a stark reminder of the destruction caused by the floods.
An early warning gave many residents only around 30 to 40 minutes to move to higher ground. Those who were unable to evacuate in time are feared to have been swept away, while others may still be trapped beneath the mud and debris.
The enormous scale of the destruction has made continuing rescue, relief and search operations an urgent priority.
