Nepal rescuers continue search for missing as identification of dead remains challenge
Eleven days post the catastrophic floods in Nepal, search teams are tirelessly looking for those still missing. Authorities are confronted with the tough task of identifying casualties, as many bodies are severely affected. Approximately 5,000 people, including several foreign nationals, are still unaccounted for after the ice-rock avalanche. The nation seeks international assistance and…
Kathmandu witnessed ongoing search efforts for those missing after severe floods struck Nepal on August 26, resulting in a high death toll and numerous bodies yet to be identified. Authorities have struggled to identify the deceased amid the daunting task of processing bodies severely damaged, decomposed, or only partially recovered. The death count rose to 1,344, with nearly 5,000 people still missing, including 589 foreigners. More than 13,400 individuals had been rescued thus far.
The disaster originated from an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, unleashing a torrent of water and debris downstream through the Bhotekoshi River, causing widespread destruction across northern and central Nepal. Homes, vehicles, roads, bridges, and hydropower infrastructure were either destroyed or severely damaged.
At least 43 lives were lost on the Chinese side, while over 500 individuals remained missing in Tibet, according to local reports. Among the recovered bodies, 85 were children, and roughly 500 had missing body parts, complicating the identification process.
Chitwan district reported the highest number of recovered bodies, with 362 individuals, followed by Nawalparasi East, Nawalparasi West, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Gorkha, Dhading, and Tanahun. Of the recovered bodies, only 98 have been identified and returned to their families. Identifying the dead has proven challenging due to the extensive damage and decomposition of many bodies, along with some recovered only in fragments.
To aid in future identification, the Nepal Police are collecting DNA samples from relatives of missing persons.
The government has taken proactive steps to manage the crisis, ensuring relief materials and distributing them effectively despite the scale of the disaster. Over 1,000 unidentified bodies were buried with a plan for future identification. Hospitals faced immense pressure handling the large number of unidentified corpses, with crowds gathering at medical facilities to mourn and inquire about their missing relatives.
Nepal's Information and Communication Minister Bikram Timilsina emphasized the government's commitment to providing relief materials and avoiding mismanagement, urging the international community to prioritize climate justice. Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal met with his South Korean counterpart to discuss search and rescue operations, relief efforts, and support for post-disaster reconstruction, particularly in rebuilding resilient infrastructure. The meeting also focused on raising climate change awareness at global forums.
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