Following the devastating Bhote Koshi floods, Nepal's morgues are struggling to cope with the influx of recovered bodies, prompting authorities to establish temporary facilities and implement advanced identification protocols.
Key Points
- Nepal's Bhote Koshi floods have resulted in a high number of recovered bodies, straining morgue facilities across multiple districts.
- Bodies are being found far downstream, necessitating the establishment of temporary storage solutions in areas like Chitwan.
- Authorities are implementing measures such as temperature control, air conditioning, and dry ice to slow decomposition and preserve remains.
- Families of missing persons are travelling to recovery sites from various districts in search of their relatives.
- Protocols under Nepal's Unidentified and Unclaimed Bodies Management Guidelines, 2021, are being followed for identification and eventual burial.
Bodies of people swept away by the devastating Bhote Koshi floods in Nepal are being recovered far downstream, overwhelming morgues and forcing authorities to set up temporary facilities to store and identify the remains, according to a media report.
Bodies recovered from Rasuwa and Nuwakot have been found as far downstream as Chitwan, Tanahun, Nawalparasi, Gorkha and other districts, with morgues in several areas running out of space, The Kathmandu Post reported.
The Bhote Koshi flash floods struck Nepal on Wednesday, sweeping through Rasuwa and other districts before surging downstream along the Trishuli and Narayani river systems, causing widespread loss of life and damage to settlements, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure.
Overwhelmed Morgues And Temporary Solutions
In Chitwan, where the number of recovered bodies has exceeded hospital capacity, authorities are preparing a temporary body storage centre in Bharatpur, the report said.
An unused building of the Industrial Enterprise Development Institute on Vidhyut Road in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-10 will be converted into the facility, following a decision taken at a meeting chaired by Chitwan Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal on Thursday, it said.
Early Thursday, 137 bodies were recovered along the Chitwan stretch of the Trishuli and Narayani rivers, between Phishling and Golaghat, with recoveries continuing.
The growing number of recovered bodies has also prompted families of missing people to travel to Chitwan from Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Gorkha and other districts in search of their relatives.
Morgues at hospitals in Chitwan can collectively accommodate between 30 and 50 bodies, Aryal said, adding that the temporary facility is expected to have space for around 250 bodies.
If that capacity is also exceeded, authorities have decided to use the electric crematorium at Devghat as an additional option, according to the report.
Bharatpur Metropolitan City will repair and equip the temporary facility. Authorities plan to control the temperature inside the rooms, install air conditioners and use dry ice to slow decomposition.
Challenges In Other Flood-Hit Regions
Meanwhile, morgues in Pokhara have also been nearing capacity after bodies were transported there from several flood-hit districts.
A total of 93 bodies have been brought to Pokhara from Tanahun, Gorkha, Nawalparasi East and Dhading, the report said.
Kaski Chief District Officer Kuman Singh Gurung said hospitals in the district had a combined capacity to accommodate 88 bodies.
