In one Nepal district, flood catastrophe is measured in bodies and burial trenches

In the Himalayan region of Nepal, catastrophic flash floods swept through the area, leaving a trail of devastation and loss. The most affected district, Chitwan in south-central Nepal, is grappling with the grim reality of the disaster. Authorities in Chitwan have resorted to burying bodies in temporary graves as they struggle to identify and properly bury the victims.

Over 250 bodies are awaiting identification, and the floods have claimed at least 800 lives, with over 3,000 people still missing. The Bhotekoshi River carried the bodies hundreds of kilometers downstream from the epicenter before they were recovered in Chitwan. On Saturday, about 100 bodies were temporarily buried by officials, as forensic teams worked tirelessly to cope with the overwhelming task.

DNA samples were taken from 50 of the bodies to aid in the identification process. Each body is assigned a reference number to facilitate family reunification in the future. Many of the victims had been submerged in floodwaters for approximately four days, resulting in significant decomposition by the time they were recovered.