Nepal buries dead as rescuers seek thousands missing

Nepal is struggling to cope with the aftermath of a devastating flood, burying bodies while rescuers search for thousands still missing. The massive wave of ice, rocks, and debris swept through the Himalayan region on Wednesday, claiming at least 797 lives in Nepal and Tibet, with hundreds more unaccounted for. Overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster, Nepali authorities have resorted to burying bodies without completing identification, using DNA samples to return remains to grieving families.

The disaster, caused by a glacial collapse, resulted in inundated villages, towns, and hydropower plants, leaving many tourists and pilgrims to Tibet's sacred Mount Kailash unaccounted for. Nepali army troops and engineers worked tirelessly to clear debris, with some trapped in tunnels at the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric site. The disaster has strained Nepal's already weakened economy, with the reconstruction bill projected to run into billions of dollars.

Foreign governments, including the United States, Canada, the UK, and the UN, have pledged aid, while Nepal's Foreign Minister has urged for specialized equipment and forensic testing to identify the deceased.