Psychological support and Tibetan therapies aid mudslide evacuees in Gyirong

Doctors providing psychological support and traditional Tibetan therapies at a temporary shelter in Gyirong town are helping evacuees cope with fear and sleep problems following the severe mudslide that hit Gyirong Port on Wednesday. They are also continuing health screenings for elderly people and children.

The massive mudslide, originating on the Nepali side of the border, struck the Gyirong Port area in Gyirong county, Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, at around 10:30 am on Wednesday. As of 6 pm on Saturday, the disaster had left 16 people dead and 546 others missing, according to regional authorities. A total of 499 residents from five at-risk villages have been relocated to temporary shelters converted from hotels and guesthouses.

Lhawang Tsering, a doctor from the Shigatse Tibetan Medicine Hospital, was dispatched to Gyirong to provide psychological support and Tibetan medical care. The four-member medical team left Shigatse on Wednesday, arrived in Gyirong at around 11 pm, and began working at the shelter the following morning. The shelter mainly accommodates residents evacuated from Trungsi village in Gyirong town and Kopa village in Salhe township.

"Some elderly residents witnessed the disaster and were deeply frightened," Lhawang Tsering said. "They were constantly worried that another disaster might occur." Some evacuees had difficulty sleeping or became irritable, while a small number experienced episodes of crying or fainting, Lhawang Tsering said. Some elderly residents also have underlying conditions such as high blood pressure.

The medical team has prioritized screenings for vulnerable residents, particularly elderly people and those whose relatives were affected by or remain missing after the disaster. Two local doctors on the team provide general medical diagnosis and treatment, while the other two members focus on psychological support and traditional Tibetan therapies.

In addition to counseling, doctors have used Horme therapy — a traditional Tibetan treatment similar to moxibustion — and Tibetan medicinal incense to help residents relax and ease emotional distress. Lhawang Tsering said the overall emotional state of evacuees had stabilized following the interventions, and no further episodes of crying or fainting had been reported.

The team is continuing to screen residents for common illnesses such as colds and diarrhea and to identify anyone who may need to be transferred to a higher-level hospital. None of the evacuated residents at the shelter was physically injured in the disaster, Lhawang Tsering said. However, the large number of elderly people and children means that regular health monitoring and targeted care remain necessary.