KATHMANDU, Aug 31: The stench of decomposing human and animal remains is spreading across parts of flood-hit Rasuwa, raising concerns over sanitation and potential health risks as rescue teams recover bodies buried in mud.
Assistant Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Humagain of the District Administration Office said the bodies retrieved after Sunday’s second flooding had begun to decompose and smell.
“The flood on Sunday morning disturbed the bodies and human and animal remains that were trapped in the mud, causing the stench,” he said.
Residents affected by the flood said the smell had also spread to Betravati in Rasuwa.
Dr Nabaraj Shrestha, senior veterinary officer at the Department of Livestock Services, said three dead cows had been found in Devighat, Rasuwa. He said authorities were coordinating with local governments to manage animal carcasses as they were recovered. Ambulances and vehicles for managing the bodies have also been sent to the affected districts from various parts of the country.
Bhotekoshi flood: Decomposing bodies create forensic challenge
“Kathmandu Metropolitan City has also sent several ambulances and vehicles,” he said.
Authorities have also arranged chemicals to help control the smell and prevent the spread of germs, Shrestha said.
However, experts say the smell from decomposing bodies itself does not directly cause infectious diseases. The greater concern is contamination and the animals and birds that come into contact with the remains.
“If birds feed on the dead bodies and contaminate water sources, they can create a risk of bacterial diseases such as E. coli infections,” Shrestha said.
Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, coordinator of the research unit at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, said crows and rats feeding on the remains could increase the risk of scrub typhus in human settlements.
“Infections will not directly spread from corpses to people; the risk of infection comes from rodents and birds that come into contact with them,” Pun said.
He said there was no evidence so far of infectious diseases spreading directly from dead bodies to humans.
Meanwhile, Shrestha warned that livestock could be exposed to germs present in the mudflow left by the flood. Animals are susceptible to a disease locally known as ‘padke,’ which is caused by germs in the mud and can also affect humans, he said.
The pathogen can enter the body through the mouth, anus or eyes. Infection can cause bleeding from the nose and anus and problems with blood clotting, and can be fatal in animals. In humans, infection can cause wounds to appear on the skin, Shrestha said.
Doctors have warned that poor sanitation in flood-affected areas could increase the risk of various infectious diseases. They have urged authorities and residents to pay particular attention to the cleanliness of drinking water, food and living spaces.
Poor sanitation can increase the risk of diarrhea and mosquito-borne diseases, among other illnesses. Pun said the government should ensure access to clean drinking water and food in temporary settlements.
He also recommended the use of masks and the provision of clean toilets, particularly in overcrowded and poorly organized temporary settlements.
