58 Unidentified Bodies from Bhotekoshi–Trishuli Flood Temporarily Preserved in Kathmandu, DNA Matching to Follow

58 Unidentified Bodies from Bhotekoshi–Trishuli Flood Temporarily Preserved in Kathmandu, DNA Matching to Follow

Kathmandu — A total of 58 bodies of people who died in the devastating floods along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers and whose identities have not yet been established have been temporarily preserved in Kathmandu, according to a notice issued by the District Administration Office, Kathmandu.

The bodies were brought to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu following the floods that affected areas along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts. Bodies that had been identified through relatives and families were already handed over, while many of the remaining bodies were reportedly severely damaged and difficult to identify. Some bodies had undergone significant decomposition, while in some cases only skeletal remains remained.

The District Administration Office said prolonged storage of the bodies at the hospital could lead to further decomposition, foul odors and an increased risk of public-health and epidemic concerns. Following a decision of the Kathmandu District Security Committee dated 2083/04/15 B.S., the unidentified remains were therefore temporarily transferred for secure management.

Before the bodies were temporarily managed, authorities reportedly completed several identification-related procedures, including photographing each body, collecting tissue samples for DNA testing and attaching body tags. A total of 58 unidentified bodies have subsequently been kept in temporary secure preservation, according to the notice.

Representatives of the National Human Rights Commission, Nepal Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Nepal also observed the body-management process, the District Administration Office said. Authorities stated that international protocols and national procedural provisions were followed during the process.

The next stage will involve scientific DNA testing and DNA matching. Once the identities of the remains are confirmed through DNA analysis, the remains will be handed over to the respective families for final funeral rites, according to the administration. Relevant information regarding identification and the handover process will be communicated through the District Administration Office.

The devastating floods that struck the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river areas on 2083/04/10 B.S. caused significant loss of life and property in parts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading. With identification of the victims proving particularly difficult because of the condition of some remains, authorities have moved toward a DNA-based identification process.

The District Administration Office, Kathmandu, expressed condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the disaster and paid tribute to all those who lost their lives in the floods.

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Nepali: भोटेकोशी–त्रिशूली बाढी: पहिचान हुन नसकेका ५८ शव अस्थायी रूपमा सुरक्षित, डीएनए परीक्षणपछि परिवारलाई बुझाइने

English: Bhotekoshi–Trishuli Flood: 58 Unidentified Bodies Temporarily Preserved, DNA Testing to Establish Identities