CNA • 2:57 • intermediate • News
Q1. What is the primary mode of transportation for reaching remote communities affected by the floods?
6 words to learn — tap cards to flip and save favorites.
/ˌkætəˈstrɑfɪk/
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Definition
involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.
Example
The catastrophic flood left the village in ruins.
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/ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌktʃər/
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Definition
the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.
Example
The earthquake destroyed much of the local infrastructure, making rescue efforts difficult.
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/ɪnˈɡʌlft/
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to sweep over something so as to surround or cover it completely.
Example
The town was engulfed by the rising waters of the river.
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/ˈtɔrənt/
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a strong and fast-moving stream of water or other liquid.
Example
The torrent of rain caused severe flooding in the area.
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/dəˈbri/
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Definition
scattered pieces of waste or remains.
Example
The storm left behind a trail of debris that took weeks to clean up.
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/ˈrɛskju/
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to save someone from a dangerous or distressing situation.
Example
The rescue teams worked tirelessly to find survivors in the rubble.
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The scars of disaster stretching from one valley to the next. There's no road to reach the high altitude villages decimated by last Wednesday's catastrophic flood. Right now, only helicopters can do the job. We're heading north now [music] up
the Trishuli River. This is a really busy air corridor still more than a week after the devastating floods. And for most of these remote communities, helicopter is the only way to reach them given that all of the infrastructure
has been destroyed. And from up here, the scale of the damage is shocking. An entire valley that's been wiped away. This is a hydropower corridor, but it's been ripped apart. From above, we spot the technical rescues underway at
tunnel projects concentrated right along the Trishuli. Hundreds of workers may still be alive underground. They're running out of time. With each bend of the river comes the next town in pieces and the next. Above Timure, close to the
border with China, very little to suggest a village once stood here. Bodies are still being pulled out of the mud. It's not safe to land. A little further south, we set sights on Syabrubesi. Before last week, a popular
stop for trekkers and pilgrims. We've landed in Syabrubesi. You can see a lot of helicopters coming in and out. There are rescue teams from Nepal and also from India. This is about 15 km from the border with China
and further down closer to the river, the entire village has been wiped out. This riverside used to have hundreds of houses and hotels. 80% of them are now gone. We go down as far as the road still goes.
This Buddhist shrine marks the end. It has partly survived. Inside, mud-spattered religious texts and statues. From the lower part of this village, we can really see the extent of the damage here and the power of the torrent that
came through. Look at the way the landscape has changed. All of the houses that were once here are gone. The ones that are left are completely engulfed with mud and unlivable. And down even further along part of this
river, we can see an ongoing operation. There are rescue crews down at that part of the river potentially looking for more bodies or potentially survivors. The Nepali army later confirms that two bodies were pulled out of there earlier.
The search continues for more. The dark waters still rage along this valley. They have brought much debris and death to communities that have lost so much and may never rebuild. Jack Board, CNA, in north central Nepal.
