Key facts
- At least 797 people have died in floods and mudslides in Nepal and Tibet.
- Morgues are overflowing, leading to mass burials in districts like Bharatpur.
- Over 3,000 people remain missing.
- Survivors are returning to find their homes destroyed and are attempting to salvage belongings.
- Authorities are using photographs of the deceased to aid in identification.
- The government has requested additional freezer units to store bodies.
The death toll from devastating floods and mudslides in Nepal and Tibet has climbed to 797, with authorities overwhelmed by the number of victims. Morgues are overflowing, prompting mass burials where bodies are tagged and DNA samples taken in the hope of future identification. In Chitwan, hundreds of bodies have been recovered along riverbanks, many disfigured beyond recognition, with officials resorting to using photographs for identification. Thousands remain missing, and access to the worst-hit areas is limited to army helicopters. The Nepalese government has requested over 1,000 freezer units to cope with the crisis. Survivors are returning to the ruins of their homes, facing the daunting task of salvaging what little remains and contemplating the immense challenge of rebuilding. The Trishuli River, which caused much of the destruction, remains dangerously high, urging residents to seek higher ground and abandon their devastated communities.