Dondrub Gyaltsan (left), captain of the Dingri county branch of the Xizang fire and rescue corps, and his colleague move things out of a damaged house at a village in Dingri county, Xizang autonomous region, after a magnitude-6.8 earthquake hit the area on Jan 7. CHINA DAILY

More than a month after a devastating earthquake struck her home county on Jan 7, Kelsang Drolma, a village official in the Xizang autonomous region, still recalls the intense, sleepless nights spent racing against time to relocate villagers and minimize losses.

The magnitude-6.8 earthquake claimed 126 lives and affected multiple areas, including Chukhu village in Mangphu township, Lhaze county, where Kelsang Drolma has worked tirelessly to help residents recover.

She was attending a meeting when the earthquake hit. As soon as the tremors began, she ran out of the hall and tried to call her villagers but found that the communication network was down.

"I couldn't reach anyone. I became very worried and decided to return to the village immediately," she said.

On her way back, many villagers working in distant locations called her, desperate for news of their families. She reassured them that their loved ones would be fine and promised to update them upon reaching the village.

The road back was strewn with rocks from the quake, forcing her and a township leader traveling with her to clear debris along the way. It took them about 40 minutes to reach the village, where they learned that, fortunately, all villagers were safe.

Kelsang Drolma moves some daily utensils from a damaged house at Chukhu village in Lhaze county, Xizang. CHINA DAILY

Two township officials had already arrived ahead of her to assess the situation.

"As soon as I heard the villagers were safe, I felt so relieved," said the 28-year-old.

However, many houses had collapsed or sustained major cracks. Seeing the devastation, some villagers burst into tears, asking her what to do next. "I told them that as long as lives were safe, everything else could be rebuilt," she said, adding that the government and the Communist Party of China would help them recover.

Kelsang Drolma quickly organized relief efforts. She visited households to assess damage to homes and livestock and worked to restore normalcy.

Continuous aftershocks on Jan 7 and 8, along with falling rocks in the mountainous terrain, posed ongoing risks to residents' safety and property.

"After careful planning, we evacuated 42 residents, mostly elderly people and children, to a resettlement site near the primary school," she said.

She arranged for 24 villagers to care for the livestock and set up 10 additional tents with quilts, winter jackets, beds, heaters and other necessities. "Currently, food, shelter and heating at the settlement site are ensured, and residents can sleep safely in the temporary shelters," she said.

Eighteen households were relocated to the township primary school, where 13 tents were set up. There were no casualties or missing persons in the village.

"I was on duty for seven consecutive days with little sleep, which was exhausting," she said.

"But when we visited residents' tents, they would express their gratitude by offering us hot butter tea. That made me feel proud of what we were doing."

Dondrub Gyaltsan comforts a villager at a camp site in the quake-hit area in Dingri, Xizang. CHINA DAILY

Firefighters also played a critical role in rescue efforts.

They arrived in affected areas immediately after the quake, conducting search and rescue missions, clearing debris and helping residents set up tents.

Among them was Dondrub Gyaltsan, captain of the Dingri county branch of the Xizang fire and rescue corps, who led a rapid response team to the disaster zone.

"When the earthquake struck, our brigade barracks shook violently, with tiles falling as we ran downstairs," he said.

He immediately gathered his colleagues and led three vehicles and 19 personnel to the epicenter in Dramso township, Dingri county.

"When we arrived, we saw collapsed houses, immense destruction and people suffering. It was heartbreaking," he said.

Despite the devastation, he quickly organized his team into four search and rescue squads to operate in different villages.

"In Thongley village, I was searching a house when I touched a small foot under a blanket. I realized it was a child," he said.

"When I carried her out, she was so light, but my heart felt so heavy. I have two daughters of my own."

After handing the child's body to her mother, he could offer only a few comforting words before moving to the next site.

In another house, his team found an elderly man who had been killed by a falling metal beam. Using hydraulic cutters, they freed his body and returned it to his family.

Over the following days, Dondrub Gyaltsan's team helped residents retrieve valuable belongings from damaged homes.

"Once they had salvaged their items, the villagers, covered in sweat, expressed deep gratitude for our help," he said.

"We always do our best to conduct search and rescue operations and support affected residents."