Kathmandu— Following the Bhotekoshi flash flood that struck Nepal on August 26, 1,181 dead bodies and 1,186 blood samples from relatives have been collected for DNA matching to identify the deceased. The Nepal Police are prioritizing the process, with 1,339 dead bodies and 4,044 missing persons reported so far.

Identification Efforts

A preliminary assessment by the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) team revealed significant damage, including 7,570 affected houses, 55 kilometers of damaged roads, and 37 motorable bridges. Agricultural land, hydropower projects, and transmission lines also suffered extensive damage, with 783 MW of hydropower generation capacity affected.

Regional Impact

The Bhotekoshi flooding and its subsequent impact on the Trishuli River system resulted in substantial losses of lives and property. The Nepal Police Headquarters reported the number of dead bodies found in various districts: 163 in Rasuwa, 193 in Nuwakot, 67 in Dhading, 362 in Chitwan, 74 in Gorkha, 38 in Tanahu, 22 in Nawalparasi East, and 220 in Nawalparasi West. Additionally, 4,044 people remain missing.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.