Guwahati: A month after devastating flash floods struck northern and central Nepal, the death toll has reached 1,453, while 5,285 people remain unaccounted for, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).
The disaster management authority said Saturday that 1,451 bodies have been recovered, while two other victims died while undergoing treatment. So far, 13,795 people have been rescued following the floods.
Of those rescued, 1,113 people are currently staying at 21 holding centres, including 187 from Nuwakot, 805 from Rasuwa and 121 from Dhading.
The flash floods struck on August 26 after originating near the Nepal-Tibet border, causing widespread destruction across towns and villages in northern and central parts of the country.
Floodwaters from the Bhotekoshi River, which flows southward from the Himalayan border region, swept away houses, vehicles, roads and bridges and caused damage to hydropower infrastructure.
The disaster also affected neighbouring Tibet, where 43 people were reportedly killed and more than 500 remained unaccounted for, according to Chinese media reports.Identifying the victims remains a major challenge for authorities. Of the 1,453 bodies recovered, only 112 have so far been identified and handed over to their families, according to NDRRMA.
Many of the recovered remains were severely damaged or fragmented, making identification through visual examination difficult. Nepal Police has therefore turned to DNA profiling to establish the identities of those who remain unidentified.
Police have collected 1,329 DNA samples from recovered bodies and remains, along with another 2,060 samples from relatives of people reported missing.
Authorities have also buried a number of unidentified remains after following required procedures and collecting DNA samples and other identifying information. The samples are being preserved to allow future comparisons if additional relatives come forward or potential matches are established.
Nepal Police has urged families of missing people to provide blood samples for DNA testing. Authorities have said samples from a first-degree relative, such as a parent or child, are preferred, while a sibling’s sample can be provided when a first-degree relative is unavailable.
The floods have also placed significant pressure on Nepal’s relief and medical infrastructure. NDRRMA said security agencies have provided medical treatment to around 11,000 people affected by the disaster, while seven injured victims remain under treatment.
With thousands still unaccounted for and identification efforts continuing, authorities are relying on DNA profiling and information from families to determine the identities of recovered remains and provide closure to those affected by the disaster.