Helicopter pilot recounts rescuing flood victims in Nepal
Andy Thapa, a charter and rescue helicopter pilot in Nepal, describes his experience airlifting people trapped by catastrophic flooding to safety.
Catastrophic flooding in Nepal has left many residents unable to reach safety on their own. Among those involved in the rescue effort is Andy Thapa, a charter and rescue pilot who flies for a Nepali helicopter company.
Thapa has been carrying out repeated rescue flights, lifting stranded flood victims from danger and transporting them to safe locations. He recently shared his account of what he has witnessed while carrying out this rescue work.
The pilot's testimony offers a rare glimpse into conditions on the ground in Nepal, where the flooding has created a serious situation for residents in affected areas. Helicopter crews, including Thapa's, have become one of the key resources for reaching people in urgent need of evacuation and assistance.
NPR spoke with the pilot to learn more about the situation and how rescue operations are unfolding in the flood-hit regions. Firsthand accounts like his help convey the scale of the crisis and the challenges rescuers face while operating in extreme conditions.
The source report does not specify how many people Thapa and his colleagues have rescued so far, nor how long the rescue operations have been underway or when they might end. What is clear is that the flooding continues to pose a serious threat to people in Nepal, and rescue efforts are ongoing.
