Nepal Army and locals race to aid disaster victims after devastating mudslide

A devastating mudslide, composed of ice and rock, surged down Nepal's Trishuli River, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming nearly 550 lives. The town of Bidur, situated on the route towards the Chinese border, is now covered in a thick layer of gray mud. The main market and surrounding homes within 100 meters of the river have been completely submerged.

Thousands of survivors on the other side of the river are cut off from the outside world, with no possibility of receiving supplies. Four bulldozers are attempting to clear a path, pushing mud aside to create a passable route. Their blades sink into the sandy material, and their wheels spin, indicating the immense challenge ahead. This painstaking work is expected to take weeks.

Rescuers and scouts, armed with shovels, are joining the effort to clear what they can. The scale of the disaster has overwhelmed the nation's limited resources, forcing a reliance on community self-help and the mobilization of meager air assets. The immediate focus is on restoring connectivity and delivering essential aid to those isolated by the catastrophic event.