Flood survivors in Nepal barter food for medicine and cross river on zip line
Relief camp residents in Nepal are trading food rations for needed medication, while some communities use a makeshift zip line to cross flood-cut rivers.
After the August 26 floods caused by a glacier collapse, thousands of Nepalese remain in temporary shelters where food aid is available but essential medicines are scarce, leading some to barter items such as noodles for prescriptions. Suresh Kumar Karanjit, who lost his brother in the disaster, described selling a noodle carton for 400 rupees to buy heart medication. Disaster chief Dharam Raj Uprety said health camps staffed by doctors are operating at each relief site, focusing also on sanitation to curb disease.
In Bidur, residents have constructed a zip line over the Trishuli River, with army help, to reconnect split neighborhoods. Meanwhile, rescue operations target tunnels at hydroelectric projects where about 900 workers are still unaccounted for, involving teams from India, China and the United States. Lawmaker Ram Neupane noted progress on manually opening the Trishuli-3A tunnel, though further rock clearing is required.
Why it matters
The story shows how flood victims cope with medical shortages and disrupted transport, highlighting ongoing humanitarian challenges.
How this story developed
- Aug 28 Nepalese army pulls survivors from flooded hydropower tunnel in Rasuwa
- Aug 31 International rescue teams joined Nepalese forces and fresh flood warnings were issued as river levels rose.
- Aug 31 Drilling and air‑pumping operations at the Trishuli‑3A tunnel have begun to free trapped workers.
- Sep 1 Death toll rose to at least 950 and missing counts climbed to over 4,400, including about 80 Americans and up to 43 Australians.
- Sep 1 A rapid hazard assessment found satellite images showed glacier changes days before the deadly avalanche and flash flood that trapped hundreds of construction workers in Nepal.
- Sep 1 An Australian survivor was located, reducing the number of missing Australians to 42.
- Sep 2 A scientific review released new findings on pre‑event signals in the glacier collapse.
- Sep 3 Families held symbolic funerals for missing victims.
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