Nepal army rescues 117 stranded in trekking villages after devastating earthquake

A woman walks out from a collapsed house in Bungamati village, Lalitpur. Rescue attempts are continuing after the devastating earthquake. Reuters

The Nepali army has rescued 117 people from three remote mountain villages north of the capital Kathmandu, including two US citizens who had been searching for a missing relative, a military official said on Tuesday.

The 115 Nepalis and two Americans were evacuated on Monday from Syanjen, Kenjing and Langtang Village, where hundreds of people were killed in a huge landslide and avalanche triggered by last month's earthquake.

All of those rescued were stranded in the three popular trekking villages in Rasuwa district, about 60 km (35 miles) north of Kathmandu, after the 7.8 earthquake struck on April 25, killing at least 8,046 people and injured more than 17,800.

A series of avalanches and bad weather in the area had slowed the military's efforts to reach those cut off.

"The entire Langtang Valley has turned into a rocky and snowy ruin due to avalanches," Uddhav Bhattarai, Rasuwa's district administrator, told Reuters.

article,article,article,article Related

On Sunday, the continuing avalanche risk led officials to suspend their search for some 200 bodies believed to be buried beneath the rock and snow in Langtang Village.

As of Monday, 128 bodies had been recovered there.

"Rescuers have been unable to go there to look for bodies since the weekend because avalanches continue to fall and make it dangerous," Bhattarai said.

The US citizens rescued on Monday were with a Nepali guide, a military official said, and were brought to the district capital of Dhunche along with the Nepalis who were rescued.

related articles
Nepal: Death toll passes 6,200, $2 billion needed for rebuilding
Nepal: Death toll passes 6,200, $2 billion needed for rebuilding

Nepal: Death toll passes 6,200, $2 billion needed for rebuilding

Hillsong appeals for Nepal earthquake relief
Hillsong appeals for Nepal earthquake relief

Hillsong appeals for Nepal earthquake relief

Sex traffickers prey on vulnerable Nepali girls in aftermath of earthquake
Sex traffickers prey on vulnerable Nepali girls in aftermath of earthquake

Sex traffickers prey on vulnerable Nepali girls in aftermath of earthquake

Nepal earthquake exposes discrimination against country\'s minority Christians
Nepal earthquake exposes discrimination against country's minority Christians

Nepal earthquake exposes discrimination against country's minority Christians

News
Who was Pope Adrian IV, the only English Pope?
Who was Pope Adrian IV, the only English Pope?

Few people know that there was once a Pope from England. This is the story …

'Humble' Pope Francis buried after funeral watched by hundreds of thousands
'Humble' Pope Francis buried after funeral watched by hundreds of thousands

Thousands of people crowded into St Peter's Square on Saturday morning for the funeral of Pope Francis. 

Release of man who killed Graham Staines and sons sparks public outrage 
Release of man who killed Graham Staines and sons sparks public outrage 

The release of Mahendra Hembram has raised fears of politicised justice in India.

Church of England launches housing fund to tackle community homelessness
Church of England launches housing fund to tackle community homelessness

The Church of England has unveiled a new £3.2 million grant scheme to support parishes and dioceses in developing affordable housing projects on church-owned land.