Expressing gratitude

Phurbu Tsering headed for Thongley village from Lhasa as soon as he learned that the earthquake had struck his hometown.

"I was extremely worried as I did not know how bad it could be," he said.

He arrived at the village at around 6 pm on Tuesday. Even though his family home had collapsed, those in the house were safe.

Rescuers helped them put up tents and brought them food, clothes and quilts.

"I was deeply moved by how quickly the rescuers came to our help," he said.

Lhagpa, 65, who lived in badly hit Dramso village, said her two-story house collapsed and three of her cows were injured.

The good news was that all her seven family members were safe.

"Government officials, rescue teams and medical workers came to our side at the earliest. They transferred us to a safe place and went on searching for people and livestock one household at a time," she said. "I was so deeply moved."

The young rescuers, many of whom are Party members, are fighting on the frontline tirelessly, and they are the true heroes, she added.