Nepal Begins Temporary Burials for Unidentified Flood Victims

Authorities in Nepal's Chitwan district have begun burying victims of recent flash floods in temporary graves, as the sheer number of bodies recovered has overwhelmed identification efforts. The decision comes after devastating floods in the Himalayan region swept many people downstream, leaving bodies unrecognizable or badly decomposed.

Nepal's Foreign Secretary, Amrit Bahadur Rai, explained that the temporary burials follow standard protocols, including those set by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). This approach is being applied especially to remains that are not recognisable, amputated, or decomposed due to prolonged exposure to water.

Before each burial, medical teams are collecting DNA samples from every victim. This will allow families to match records later and permits exhumation for necessary funeral rituals at a future date.

The move has prompted criticism from some quarters, with accusations that Hindu funeral traditions are being ignored. However, officials maintain the procedure is a necessary measure given the circumstances.

Video footage from the district shows mortuary vans carrying bodies on roads, with Nepal army personnel and medical workers at burial sites. Police have also been involved in recovery operations, using inflatable boats along riversides to retrieve the dead.