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Nepal is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis after devastating flash floods swept through several districts, killing hundreds and leaving thousands missing.
The disaster has also overwhelmed the country’s morgues, with hospitals struggling to accommodate the growing number of bodies recovered from rivers.
Bodies swept downstream from Rasuwa and Nuwakot have been recovered as far away as Chitwan, Tanahun, Gorkha and Nawalparasi. In Chitwan, hospital morgues can normally hold only around 30–50 bodies, but authorities have recovered far more, forcing them to establish a temporary facility in Bharatpur with capacity for about 250 bodies.
Authorities in several districts are transferring bodies to neighbouring areas as existing facilities reach capacity.
Hospitals in Pokhara are also struggling, while temporary storage facilities, air conditioners and dry ice are being used to slow decomposition.
The identification of victims has become another major challenge. Police are photographing bodies, collecting fingerprints and DNA samples, and conducting post-mortem examinations.
Families of missing people have travelled to recovery centres in search of their loved ones.
The tragedy has left communities across Nepal mourning as rescue and recovery teams continue searching for missing people and recovering bodies from rivers and debris.
