Nepal Struggles To Store And Identify Bodies As Flood Death Toll Rises

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- Nepal’s morgues are running out of space as bodies swept far downstream by the devastating Bhotekoshi floods continue to be recovered, forcing authorities to establish temporary facilities and transfer remains to neighbouring districts, local media reported Friday.

According to The Kathmandu Post, remains from Rasuwa and Nuwakot have been recovered as far downstream as Chitwan, Tanahun and Nawalparasi, overwhelming morgues and complicating identification efforts.

In Chitwan, 137 bodies had been recovered along the Trishuli and Narayani rivers as of Thursday morning, far exceeding the district’s morgue capacity of between 30 and 50 bodies.

Chitwan Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal said an unused Industrial Enterprise Development Institute building in Bharatpur was being converted into a temporary morgue capable of holding about 250 bodies.

“The facility will use air conditioners and dry ice to slow decomposition,” he said, as quoted by The Kathmandu Post.

In Pokhara, morgue facilities are also operating beyond capacity after receiving 93 bodies from Tanahun, Gorkha, Nawalparasi East and Dhading.

Kaski Chief District Officer Kuman Singh Gurung said the district’s hospitals could collectively accommodate 88 bodies, including five already stored before the flood.

“We have managed to accommodate them for now. If more bodies arrive, we will have to coordinate with nearby districts,” he said.

Pokhara Academy of Health Science information officer Sushil Aryal said the bodies were being stored at between two and six degrees Celsius and could be preserved for only 10 days to two weeks.

Meanwhile, relatives of those missing have begun arriving in Chitwan from several districts, carrying photographs and seeking information as more bodies are recovered.

Kaski Police Chief Superintendent of Police Nabin Karki said police were photographing the bodies, taking fingerprints and collecting DNA samples to assist with identification.

Photographs of recognisable victims were also being released to help families identify their relatives.

“If the relatives cannot be located or the bodies identified, we cannot keep the bodies indefinitely, as fingerprints and DNA samples have already been collected,” Karki said.

Authorities were coordinating with local agencies to designate secure burial sites for unidentified bodies.

The death toll from the devastating floods has risen to 475, with hundreds still missing as search teams scour rivers and downstream areas for survivors and bodies.

The disaster swept away homes, bridges and roads, leaving some communities and travellers cut off.

The full extent of the disaster remains unclear as authorities reconcile casualty and missing-person figures from affected districts, The Kathmandu Post reported.

-- BERNAMA