Authorities in Nepal's Chitwan district have begun burying hundreds of unidentified flood victims in temporary graves due to overwhelming numbers and limited forensic capacity. The move has drawn criticism from some residents and former officials who argue that traditional Hindu funeral rites, which involve cremation, are being disregarded and that the burials are premature.
The devastating flash floods and mudslides in the Himalayan region have killed at least 800 people and left more than 3,000 missing in Nepal and Tibet. Approximately 250 bodies were recovered in Chitwan district, having been swept downstream by the Bhotekoshi River from the flood's epicenter.
Officials stated that about 100 victims were temporarily buried on Saturday, with another 50 awaiting identification and likely burial on Sunday after DNA samples were collected. Police inspector Anil Thapa explained that DNA samples, photographs of distinguishing features, and reference numbers are being recorded to facilitate later identification and claims by families. He noted that many bodies had been submerged for approximately four days and were already decomposing upon recovery.
The challenges are compounded by limited forensic infrastructure and morgue capacity in the district, as well as high humidity and heat accelerating decomposition. The main highway connecting Kathmandu to Chitwan, which had partially reopened, was again closed by fresh landslides on Sunday, hindering efforts to transport bodies and relief supplies.
Critics, including former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and residents like Ruby Chaudhary, whose relatives are missing, have questioned the speed of the burials. They emphasize the cultural importance of cremation and the need for families' consent and dignity for the deceased. Bhattarai suggested that emergency resources could have been utilized to set up temporary morgues or cold storage facilities.
However, officials maintain that the burials are a temporary measure necessitated by public health concerns and a lack of facilities. Amrit Bahadur Rai, Nepal's foreign secretary, stated that these procedures align with internationally accepted disaster management protocols, including those of the International Committee of the Red Cross. He assured that families would be able to exhume the remains later for necessary rituals once identification is confirmed through the collected records.