Himalayan Flood
Horror in flood-hit Nepal: Bodies pile up as death toll climbs to 734
The death toll from the devastating floods that hit Nepal last week has risen to 734, as rescuers continue efforts to locate and save possible survivors trapped beneath the rubble.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), in its search, rescue and relief update issued at 9 a.m. on Sunday, said 734 bodies, including human remains, had been recovered from several flood-hit districts, The Kathmandu Post reported.
Chitwan recorded the highest number of recovered bodies, with the figure standing at 259.
According to government data, 2,498 people remain unaccounted for.
The missing include 933 hydropower project workers and 562 people in Rasuwa and 115 in Nuwakot. The list also includes 27 Nepal Police personnel, 45 Nepal Army personnel, 13 Armed Police Force personnel, 15 customs officials and four immigration officials, The Himalayan Times reported.
Meanwhile, Nepal has decided to begin burying unidentified and unclaimed bodies recovered from the devastating flash floods as authorities struggle to preserve the remains amid limited storage facilities and concerns over the risk of infection, according to media reports.
Authorities in Chitwan have faced difficulties preventing the bodies from decomposing due to a shortage of space and adequate facilities at hospitals.
Officials decided on Saturday to proceed with the burials after health experts warned that increasing decomposition and the foul smell from bodies kept in temporary arrangements could increase the risk of infection.
With bodies continuing to pile up, authorities had been using a house as a temporary cooling facility. Officials said the facility eventually ran out of space, leaving burial as the only viable option.
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