55 more rescued in Langtang village

RASUWA, May 3: Fifty-five more people, including hikers, have been rescued so far from Langtang village in Rasuwa district. They had gone missing after an avalanche triggered by the massive earthquake on April 25 swept the village.

Of those rescued, two foreign tourists have been sent to the capital, said assistant chief district officer (CDO) Gautam Rimal.

According to him, the rescue work has already finished in the district. "Now the rescue team is looking for hikers buried in avalanche," he added.A total of 170 locals and 150 hikers have been missing in the avalanche. Following the avalanche after the earthquake, Langtang area has turned into a dry and barren land.

There were a total of 55 households in Langtang village, of which only one house has remained intact. Likewise, buildings of local health post, VDC office, Nepal Army's Naryandal Barrack post and one hydropower project has completely been buried in the avalanche.

After the catastrophe, 300 locals and foreigners stranded in the village have been rescued in the last two days through helicopters.

Meanwhile, assistant CDO Rimal informed that 48 bodies of foreign tourists have been recovered from Langtang as of Saturday.

With the recent recovery of bodies, the death toll caused by the devastating earthquake has mounted to 352, while around a 1,000 persons have been injured so far.

Over 35,000 locals have been displaced after their houses were destroyed by the earthquake, it is learnt.

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