Key facts
- Nepal is conducting mass temporary burials of unidentified flood victims in Chitwan district.
- Approximately 250 bodies were recovered in the district, many already decomposing.
- Limited forensic and morgue capacity are contributing to the decision for temporary burials.
- DNA samples are being collected from bodies to facilitate future identification.
- The burials have drawn criticism from families who wish to perform traditional Hindu cremation rites.
In Nepal's Chitwan district, authorities have begun mass temporary burials of hundreds of unidentified flood victims following devastating flash floods and mudslides. The catastrophic event, which killed at least 800 people and left over 3,000 missing across Nepal and Tibet, carried bodies hundreds of kilometers downstream to Chitwan.
Officials stated that approximately 100 bodies were temporarily buried on Saturday, with another 50 slated for DNA sampling and likely burial on Sunday. Many of the recovered bodies were already decomposing after being submerged for about four days. Limited forensic infrastructure and morgue capacity, designed to handle far fewer bodies, have strained the district's ability to manage the overwhelming number of deceased.
The decision to proceed with temporary burials has drawn criticism from families of the missing and some public figures. In predominantly Hindu Nepal, traditional rites involve cremation, and some residents feel the dead are being denied dignity and their last rites. Ruby Chaudhary, who has two missing relatives, stated that burials should not occur without family consent and adherence to tradition. Former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai questioned the speed of the burials before search operations concluded and without broader consultation.
Officials, however, emphasized that these are temporary measures necessitated by health concerns and capacity limitations. Inspector Anil Thapa assured that DNA samples and identifying details are being preserved, allowing families to claim and perform proper rites later if identification is made. Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai stated that the temporary burials align with internationally accepted disaster-management protocols, including those of the International Committee of the Red Cross.