Nepal begins mass burial of victims after devastating floods
Nepalese authorities have begun a mass burial process for the bodies recovered from the Trishuli River following the catastrophic floods that struck the region. The measure, which has become an urgent necessity, responds to the serious public health risks arising from the advanced state of decomposition of the remains, which prevents any attempt at visual identification.
According to security force reports, as of Saturday, 100 of the 269 bodies recovered from the waters had been buried. The remaining bodies will be buried gradually as the established legal protocols proceed.
Security protocols and human dignity
To ensure a transparent and dignified process, the Police have implemented a series of technical measures before proceeding with the burial in the designated area in Devghat, in the center of the country:
- DNA sampling of each of the corpses.
- Assignment of a unique identification number engraved on steel plates.
- Detailed registration in official files to facilitate future searches by family members.
The decision to proceed with the burials is supported by the Directive for the Management of Unidentified and Unclaimed Bodies, seeking to avoid a major health crisis and guaranteeing legal and respectful treatment of the deceased.
A tragic balance
This emergency is unfolding within the framework of a large-scale tragedy. The floods, which severely impacted areas of northern Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet, have left a confirmed death toll of 682. The number of missing persons stands at nearly 3,000, keeping rescue teams in constant work along the Trishuli River.
The DNA and metal plate identification system will allow, once laboratory analyses yield positive results, for family members to have the possibility of locating and exhuming the remains of their loved ones in the future.
