KATHMANDU, Aug 31: The death toll from the devastating flood and mudslide that left a trail of destruction along the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river corridor last Wednesday has climbed to 781, with more than 2,500 people still unaccounted for, according to the latest figures released by National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) on Sunday.
The disaster, triggered by a massive glacial collapse to the north of Mt Langtang Lirung and a subsequent catastrophic flash flood, struck the riverbank settlements on Wednesday morning, sweeping away entire villages, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
NDRRMA said 2,502 people remained unaccounted for as of Sunday evening. They include 592 foreign nationals, 933 people associated with hydropower projects, 127 Nepalis who had travelled towards Tibet, 562 people from Rasuwa, 115 from Nuwakot, 65 from Makwanpur, 25 Nepal Police personnel, 45 soldiers and 13 Armed Police Force personnel. Three officials each from Langtang National Park and the quarantine office were also listed as missing.
The official death toll was compiled from bodies recovered across several districts. NDRRMA reported that it recovered 272 bodies from Chitwan, 199 from Nawalparasi East, 100 from Nawalparasi West, 58 from Gorkha, 52 from Nuwakot, 50 from Dhading, 37 from Tanahun and 13 from Rasuwa.
Authorities have begun the difficult task of managing and identifying the bodies. Unidentified remains have been kept at hospitals in 21 districts, while DNA samples are being collected to help establish identities and allow families to eventually reclaim the remains for traditional funeral rites.
The scale of the disaster has overwhelmed rescue teams, with 20,698 security personnel from the Nepal Police, Nepali Army and Armed Police Force deployed in affected areas.
Rescuers have so far evacuated 9,835 people.
Bhotekoshi floods leave 677 transport workers unaccounted for
The floods have also left 267 people injured, with 156 already discharged from hospitals. Six surgical medical teams have been deployed to affected areas to provide emergency medical care.
Hydropower workers among missing
Hydropower projects were particularly badly affected, with 933 people associated with hydropower projects listed as missing. The disaster struck an area where numerous hydropower projects are being constructed along the Trishuli and other Himalayan rivers.
Foreign tourists and pilgrims were also caught in the disaster. Authorities said hundreds of foreigners, including people travelling towards Tibet, remain unaccounted for.
Survivors in several river settlements face the prospect of rebuilding their lives after losing homes, businesses and essential infrastructure.
The Government of Nepal has appealed for international assistance as it faces the enormous cost of rescue, relief and reconstruction. China has also provided support for the response, including cooperation on information and assistance following the disaster.
Relief supplies are continuing to reach affected communities. NDRRMA said 37 trucks and 35 Bolero vehicles had transported food and essential supplies to affected areas, while helicopters had made eight sorties to deliver food and relief materials.
The government has also provided cash assistance to affected local governments, including Rs 10 million each to Rasuwa and Nuwakot and Rs 5 million to Dhading, while Rs 67.5 million has been allocated to 15 affected municipalities.
Nepal's disaster response authorities warned that the situation remains challenging as rescuers continue searching for thousands of missing people and authorities work to identify recovered bodies.
Families to receive buried bodies in Chitwan after DNA confirmation
Families of flood victims whose bodies have been buried in Chitwan will be able to claim them after DNA testing confirms their identities, although authorities warn that the identification process could take considerably longer because of the large number of samples awaiting testing.
A total of 260 bodies washed downstream to Chitwan through the Trishuli and Narayani rivers following the Bhotekoshi flood. Around 100 of them have already been buried, while nine bodies recovered in the district have so far been identified.
The District Police Office, Chitwan, said bodies that have not been buried can be handed over to families after identification. However, bodies that have already been buried will be handed over only after DNA testing confirms their identities.
Nepal's main DNA testing facility is the Nepal Police Forensic Laboratory. With a large number of samples now requiring testing, officials estimate that processing all of them using existing capacity could take up to two years.
The government is reportedly considering bringing technical experts from abroad or sending samples to India to speed up the process. Police said testing could potentially be completed within two months if samples are sent to India or a South Korean team is brought to Nepal.
DNA samples from flood and landslide victims are currently being collected at Bharatpur Hospital. Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Bishwabandhu Bagale said collecting a sample from a single body takes around 10 to 30 minutes.
He said DNA testing is an expensive and complex process that cannot be carried out by general hospitals, while Nepal currently lacks sufficient trained personnel for large-scale testing.
Police began burying bodies from Tuesday as it became increasingly difficult to manage the growing number of bodies in Chitwan. Relatives of people missing in the floods have also been arriving in the district in increasing numbers, while bodies continue to be recovered along the Trishuli and Narayani rivers.
(Our reporter Basanta Dhungana from Chitwan contributed to this news)
