Kathmandu— Authorities in Nawalpur district, Nepal, are preparing to bury the unidentified remains of victims swept away by the recent Bhotekoshi River flash flood. As of Saturday afternoon, 165 bodies had been recovered, with only three positively identified and returned to their families. The remaining corpses are currently being held at various health facilities and temporary centers while officials work to manage the grim task of identification and final disposition.

Identification Efforts Underway

District officials plan to collect DNA samples from each unidentified body, recording identifying markers before burial. This process aims to preserve potential evidence for future identification efforts. Jagadishwar Upadhyay, the Chief District Officer, explained that limited resources and concerns about decomposition and odor are driving the need for prompt action.

Burial Sites Designated

The district security committee has authorized the burial of the unidentified remains in two community forests: Kawasoti and Devachuli. The decision to proceed with burials is guided by Nepal’s ‘Guidelines for Managing the Unknown Dead Bodies, 2083.’

Victim Demographics

According to the district police office, of the 165 bodies recovered as of Saturday afternoon, 57 were identified as male, 35 as female, and 21 as children. A significant number – 52 – consisted only of body parts, complicating identification efforts.

The process of collecting DNA samples and preparing burial sites is ongoing, with authorities working to manage the large number of unidentified victims from the devastating flood.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.