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Nepal Floods: Mass Burials Amidst Unidentified Dead
30 Aug
Summary
- Hundreds of unidentified flood victims are being buried in Chitwan.
- DNA samples are collected for potential future identification.
- Over 750 people killed, 3,000 reported missing in flash floods.
In Nepal's Chitwan district, mass burials are underway for hundreds of unidentified victims of a recent flash flood. Authorities chose the Devghat forest for mass graves due to the rapid decomposition of bodies, posing a public health risk. Recovery teams continue to retrieve victims swept away by the torrent.
The disaster, triggered by a glacial collapse near Nepal's Chinese border, has claimed approximately 750 lives, with over 3,000 people still missing. Rescue workers are meticulously documenting the dead, photographing remains, and assisting families. DNA samples have been collected from unidentified bodies, and India has dispatched a forensic team to aid Nepali counterparts.
Grim scenes persist at Bharatpur Hospital, where a temporary morgue is overwhelmed with around 125 decomposed bodies. Many are beyond recognition, overwhelming facilities designed for much smaller capacities. Grieving families gather at the Chitwan Expo Centre, hoping to identify loved ones from displayed photographs, a process many have waited days to access.
