Kathmandu: The death toll from the devastating floods and landslides in Nepal has climbed to nearly 800, while thousands of people remain missing as rescue and recovery operations continue across the flood-hit Himalayan region.
Amid the massive recovery effort, a 19-member specialised forensic team from India has begun work in Kathmandu to assist Nepal with DNA analysis and identification of victims whose remains have been recovered.
The Indian team began functioning on Sunday, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The specialists are assisting Nepali authorities in analysing DNA samples collected from unidentified victims.
Bodies Difficult to Identify
The scale of the disaster has created a major challenge for authorities trying to identify victims. Many bodies recovered from rivers and debris have been severely damaged, decomposed or otherwise difficult to recognise.
Nepali authorities have therefore been collecting DNA samples, photographs and other identifying information before burying unidentified remains.
Officials said DNA samples will allow families to establish the identity of missing relatives at a later stage, even when the remains cannot initially be recognised.
Reports said only a small number of recovered bodies had been formally identified, highlighting the importance of forensic assistance in the ongoing recovery operation.
Death Toll Rises as Search Continues
Nepal’s disaster authorities reported that the death toll had reached more than 780, with approximately 2,500 people still missing. The combined toll from Nepal and neighbouring Tibet has approached 800.
The disaster has devastated communities along the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli and other river systems, washing away homes, roads and bridges and severely damaging hydropower infrastructure.
Rescue teams are continuing to search isolated areas, riverbanks and hydropower facilities where workers and other people may still be trapped.
India Expands Rescue and Relief Support
India has significantly expanded its assistance to Nepal following the disaster.
Along with the forensic specialists, India has deployed tunnel-rescue experts, engineers, medical personnel and relief supplies to support operations in some of the worst-hit areas.
Indian and Nepali teams are particularly focused on hydropower tunnel sites where people are believed to have been trapped beneath massive quantities of debris.
The Indian Embassy in Nepal has also been coordinating assistance for Indian nationals affected by the disaster.
The MEA said 403 Indian nationals safely crossed from China into Nepal on Sunday, while around 500 Indians remained on the Chinese side and were reported to be safe.
Mass Burials Begin Amid Morgue Crisis
The huge number of recovered bodies has overwhelmed hospitals and morgues in several parts of Nepal.
Authorities have begun temporarily burying unidentified victims after collecting DNA samples and documenting the remains. Officials say the process is necessary because many bodies are badly decomposed and facilities for storing remains are limited.
The burial locations and DNA records are being preserved so that victims can potentially be identified and their remains returned to families later.
Fresh Flood Threat Adds to Rescue Challenges
Rescue operations are being complicated by unstable terrain, continuing rainfall and rising river levels.
Nepal has issued warnings after the Bhotekoshi River rose again, raising fears of further flooding in already devastated areas. Officials have urged people living near vulnerable river channels to remain alert and follow evacuation instructions.
The disaster is believed to have been triggered by a glacial collapse and massive rock-and-ice movement near the Nepal-China border, which unleashed enormous quantities of water and debris downstream.
Search for Missing People Continues
With thousands still unaccounted for, rescue agencies are racing to reach remote communities and hydropower facilities.
The arrival of India’s forensic team is expected to strengthen Nepal’s ability to identify victims while rescue workers continue searching for survivors and recovering bodies.
Authorities are also preparing for the possibility that the final death toll could rise further as previously inaccessible areas are reached.
The situation remains fluid, with rescue, relief and forensic identification operations continuing across Nepal.
