The ravaged state of the road is for now frustrating rescue efforts, with only helicopters able to access some of the more remote towns towards the northern end of the valley, which bore the brunt of the storm.
Choppers from the Nepali army whirled overhead through an overcast sky as they made their way towards the Tibet border, only 30 miles away, to help with the search for the missing. But it is proving to be increasingly difficult with the weather worsening and fears of a second flood.
The Red Cross has also managed to get some relief workers to affected towns and villages.
But it will clearly be some time until aid agencies are able to mount a serious relief effort.
In the meantime, ordinary Nepalis have come together in this time of crisis.
On the Nuwakot road, tea shops are offering free drinks and snacks; one elderly man was walking around lending his umbrella to those who have lost their homes and now find themselves exposed to the elements; while Kanchi and Milli, two women who sell vegetables at a roadside stall were giving them away for free to flood victims.
Kanchi said: ‘These are our people, and we have to do all that we can to help them.
‘I know that the government is doing its best, but we also have a duty to look after our brothers and sisters.’
The ravaged state of the road is for now frustrating rescue efforts, with only helicopters able to access some of the more remote towns towards the northern end of the valley, which bore the brunt of the storm
The catastrophic floods that struck Nepal and Tibet are reported to have surged as high as 650ft, killing at least 538 people and leaving more than 1,500 missing
People stand near a collapsed bridge after flash floods at Devighat in Nepal’s Nuwakot district on August 28
The deadly deluge is one of the country’s worst natural disasters in recent memory
A drone view of a broken bridge and damaged houses after the flash floods and mudslide, at Devighat, Nuwakot district, Nepal
A man walks past damaged structures after flash flooding in the Devighat area of Nuwakot district in Nepal
An aerial view of destroyed houses and roads covered in muds along the Trishuli River
Nepali Army personnel disembark a helicopter carrying bodies of deceased victims during rescue operations after flash floods
She revealed they are lucky to make £2 per day at the stall, but given what has happened, ‘money is not important.’
She added: ‘We are not rich but none of that matters because we all have to come together. It’s hard for us to make sense of this. Nepalis are very devout people, our temples are full every day. We don’t understand why God would do this to us?’
In the distance, a temple bell could be heard to mark the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan – one of the most important in Nepal. It was a national holiday to mark the religious occasion so people could catch up with their extended families. But for many of those in Nuwakot and other flood hit areas, there is little to celebrate.
Raja Ram explained the significance of the ancient festival. Fighting back the tears he said: ‘It celebrates the bond between a brother and sister and is very important in our culture. I’m lucky that I live high up on a hill in Nuwakot but so many people down by the river have lost a brother or sister that I’ve decided not to celebrate. It just doesn’t seem right.’
As locals sipped tea and discussed Wednesday’s events, some looked up with a solemn almost hopeless look in their eyes.
Badal, a teacher whose name means cloud in Nepali, said: ‘The Nepal-Tibet border is not very far from here but it’s one of the remotest regions in the world. I don’t understand how they’ll find anyone.
‘Since Wednesday, the wifi keeps cutting out and at times communication is almost impossible. The phone signal is also very bad. Even if somebody is alive, how will anyone find out?’
As the rain showed no sign of relenting, Prem Bahadur Tamang continued along the principal road that winds through Nuwakot, pausing at shops that are little more than shacks to show people the picture of his beloved nephew.
Calling out his name and details of where he was last seen, he said: ‘One part of me has given up hope and another part doesn’t want to do that. I suppose it’s not different to what the rest of the country is going through.’
