Rescue operations continued Thursday in the aftermath of devastating floods across several districts of Nepal, as survivors were airlifted from affected areas amid scenes of widespread destruction. Helicopters frequently landed on a football field inside the military cantonment in the town of Bidur, where survivors—some carried on stretchers, others supported by rescuers—were brought to safety.

Among those rescued was Omkar Joshi, a 35-year-old customs agent who had spent the previous night stranded on a hilltop in Timure, a border town heavily impacted by the disaster. Joshi described the town as "a giant graveyard," estimating that about 90 percent of the population had perished after the area was engulfed by a massive surge of water, mud, and debris. “All that is left are sand and pebbles, soaked red by human blood,” he said. Many residents survived only by climbing nearby slopes to avoid the rapidly rising floodwaters.

The disaster unfolded Wednesday when a tsunami-like wave of water and mud swept through villages and towns along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers. The U.S. Geological Survey attributed the catastrophe to a glacial collapse that triggered an overwhelming flow of icy debris downstream. Among those still missing are numerous foreign tourists caught in the sudden inundation.

In Bidur, relatives anxiously gathered near the football field, separated by barbed wire, searching for their loved ones. Sita BK, a 37-year-old woman from Timure, was urgently seeking information about her younger brother Ramchandra, a schoolteacher whose phone has been unreachable since the disaster struck. Officials have prioritized rescue efforts focused on those who are still in contact, leaving families waiting for news of missing individuals.

Similarly, 24-year-old Anisha Nepali returned to the area from Kathmandu upon hearing the news but has yet to receive updates about her missing mother and younger brother. She provided their names to rescuers and continues to hope for information.

Downstream, in Devighat, the scope of the destruction was starkly visible. Residents reported that only one building—a four-story old-age care facility—remained standing among approximately 150 houses along the Trishuli River’s banks. However, a landslide struck the care home as several elderly residents attempted to flee, with rescuers reporting that up to seven people were buried beneath debris. Images from rescue efforts showed victims trapped under uprooted trees.

Local resident Sabir Miyan said timely warnings about the incoming floodwaters flowing from the mountains had helped save many lives, underscoring the fragility of the region in the face of such rapid natural events.

The ongoing rescue and recovery efforts face significant challenges amid the harsh terrain and continuing threats of further landslides or flooding. Authorities continue to prioritize search operations while providing aid to survivors displaced by the disaster.