Nepal Deploys Military Helicopters for Rescue After Deadly Mudslide

Nepalese authorities have mobilised military helicopters to accelerate rescue and relief efforts in districts devastated by a mudslide that struck on Wednesday morning. The aerial operation has become a critical lifeline for survivors in areas that remain inaccessible by road.

A main command post has been established in Batar, roughly 65 kilometres from Kathmandu, which now serves as the central hub for channelling relief supplies to the affected districts. From an emergency distribution point on the route to Nuwakot, helicopters are continuously taking off and landing, ferrying water, bread, and other essentials to communities cut off from ground transport.

Rescue crews pushing deeper into the disaster zone have reported that some affected areas appear flat but are as boggy and unstable as swamps. The road network in the region has been completely ruined, making it impossible for vehicles to get through.

Among those involved in the operation are Chinese tunnel experts, who were scheduled to conduct rescue work in Trisuli on Sunday. Their journey to the front line was blocked by damaged roads, forcing them to take helicopters to reach the worst-affected areas. Zhao Bo, one of the experts who returned from a field survey at a project site on Sunday afternoon, described the challenges facing the team.

"All our transportation is now cut off. We have no way to transport our equipment and demolition tools up to the site," Zhao said. "We're wondering if we could procure some lighter materials to speed up our excavation progress and push a little further forward."

Despite the difficult conditions and equipment shortages, Zhao said the team would not give up even the slightest chance of rescue. According to the latest figures from the Nepali Police, the death toll from the mudslide had risen to 907 as of 10:30 local time on Monday.