Nepal Floods Leave 40 Children Buried in School Bus, Towns Reek of Death

The Nepal-China border region is grappling with the aftermath of a catastrophic flood, with over 3,000 people reported dead or missing. In the severely affected Nuwakot district, the situation is dire as towns are enveloped by the stench of decaying bodies, with many still trapped beneath mud and debris.

Local residents describe scenes of utter devastation. Pramod Rijal, a court employee in Nuwakot, recounted the agonizing uncertainty of not knowing the fate of his parents and young daughter, who are missing and presumed buried under the mud that consumed their home. He described the disaster as unprecedented, highlighting the urgent need for government assistance with supplies and excavation efforts, as survivors face shortages of food and shelter, and communication is hampered by power outages.

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This is an unprecedented disaster. The government needs to provide immediate supplies and assistance with excavation.

The scale of the tragedy is underscored by the fate of schoolchildren. Pasang Tamang shared the harrowing experience of rushing to her son's school only to find the campus engulfed by a mudslide. A school bus carrying over 40 students was swept away and buried by the Trishuli River, with another school bus also submerged, leaving the number of casualties unknown. The community faces immense grief and the daunting task of recovery amidst widespread destruction.

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I rushed to the school, but by the time I arrived, the mudslide had already swept away many people on campus. My son is missing.