Feature: Survivors tell of devastation at heart of Nepal quake

Devastation and grief filled villages in the interiors of Nepal while authorities and rescue teams are still struggling to reach the worst affected sites after the 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Himalayan country three days ago.

In the remote Gorkha District some 140 kilometers west of capital Kathmandu, one of the closest districts to the epicenter of the quake, survivors are mourning their lost beloved ones while waiting desperately for help.

52-year-old Krishna Bahadur stood in the rubbles of his house, overwhelmed in grief. He lost his 14-month old baby in the quake, who was sleeping in the house when the devastating quake shook the region.

"I was working nearby when the earthquake hit. I rushed to my house, then I saw my wife trapped in the rubbles...I also got injured badly. I called my neighbors to help me rescue my family, but I couldn't save my child," he recalled the tragic moment.

The quake has left the Bahadur family empty-handed. The sorrowful father, who is a daily laborer, said his dreams have gone off with his departed son, but he would try to rebuild home starting from scratch.

For 28-year old Sasmita Maskui, Saturday brought something that she could never forget as the quake has destroyed her house where her family has been living for 38 years. Now they have no choice but to live in the open for fear of more aftershocks.

"When the quake hit, we were all in the house, along with my two year old son. I was working in kitchen when the roof collapsed and injured my hand," she told Xinhua about the horrifying experience.

Bahadur and Maskui's hometown is one of the villages in the 3, 600 square kilometer district where more than 280,000 people live. Situations could be worse in other more remote villages where vehicles could not reach. According to local statistics, Gorkha has only two district hospitals.

Helicopters started reaching the far-flung and inaccessible villages with aid materials as most roads are destroyed and blocked. But storms are pouring down in the afternoon, further threatening survivors who still have to stay in the open air by causing possible landslides and hampering rescue efforts.

According to the latest figures by the country's home ministry, the 7.9-magnitude quake has so far caused the deaths of 4,335 people and injured more than 8,000. Over 400,000 buildings collapsed in the massive quake and its aftershocks.

Many countries, including neighboring China and India, offered Nepal emergency aid and humanitarian assistance soon after the quake. However, most of the supplies have not yet reached the country due to frequent closure of the airport in Kathmandu amid aftershocks. Endi