Authorities plan to preserve DNA samples before burying unidentified victims as rescue teams continue searching for thousands of people missing after the devastating floods
Nepal’s devastating flash floods have pushed the death toll past 700, with authorities continuing a massive search-and-rescue operation for thousands of people still missing across the Himalayan region bordering Tibet.
Nepal’s disaster management authorities have reported 734 deaths and 2,498 people missing, while neighbouring Tibet has reported another 16 deaths and 546 missing. The combined toll from the disaster has therefore reached 750 deaths, with more than 3,000 people still unaccounted for.
The catastrophe struck on Wednesday after a torrent of water, rocks, ice and mud swept through mountain river systems, devastating villages and damaging roads, bridges, homes and power infrastructure.
Unidentified victims to be buried after DNA collection
With rescuers recovering bodies in increasingly difficult conditions, Nepalese authorities have begun preparing for the burial of victims who cannot be immediately identified.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah said DNA samples and other identifying information would be preserved before unidentified bodies are buried. The measure is intended to ensure that families can potentially establish the identity of their missing relatives at a later stage.
Some recovered bodies have deteriorated to the point where visual identification is no longer possible. Authorities have said such remains will undergo the required legal procedures before burial, partly because of health and disease-related concerns.
Families of missing people continue to gather at hospitals and relief centres, checking photographs and lists of recovered victims in the hope of finding information about their loved ones.
Rescue operations continue amid fresh flood threat
Rescue operations have been repeatedly disrupted by poor weather, rain and difficult terrain. Helicopter operations resumed after weather conditions improved, allowing teams to reach some of the worst-hit areas.
However, Nepalese authorities have warned residents in several flood-affected regions to remain on high alert after water levels rose in the Bhotekoshi River. Chinese authorities also alerted Nepal about increased water flow upstream, prompting fresh warnings to vulnerable communities.
The situation has added to the anxiety of survivors who have already been forced to move to higher ground multiple times since the initial disaster.
Roads, bridges and power infrastructure badly damaged
The floods have left entire homes, vehicles and agricultural equipment buried beneath thick layers of mud and sediment. Landslides have also damaged farmland along river valleys.
Several major bridges have been destroyed, leaving communities isolated and complicating the movement of relief supplies and rescue teams. The Prithivi Highway, a crucial route for transporting food, fuel and other supplies to Kathmandu, has also suffered damage, although large sections remain operational.
Many areas that escaped complete destruction remain without electricity, with power poles and cables lying damaged in the flood debris.
India, China send assistance
Nepal has sought international technical assistance for rescue and recovery operations, including help in locating people trapped inside tunnels, restoring damaged transport links and identifying victims through DNA testing.
India has sent tunnel experts and relief supplies, including food, medicines and blankets.
The scale of destruction is expected to make reconstruction a major challenge. Nepal’s Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has estimated the preliminary rebuilding cost at between $4 billion and $5 billion, although the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
As rescue teams continue to search through mud, debris and damaged infrastructure, families across Nepal and other countries remain anxiously waiting for news of those still missing.
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