Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Two Arrested Over Alleged Earring Theft From Nepal Flood Victim
Floodwater carried a woman’s body into Nepal’s Narayani River.
A short video appeared to show two men pulling the body from the water.
They seemed to use wooden boards and the woman’s hair to move her.
The video also appeared to show them taking earrings from both ears.
The earrings were believed to be gold.
Police identified and arrested two men near a bus park in Bharatpur.
Reports gave different names for one suspect, calling him Madan Gurung or Madan Bhujel.
Police said such treatment of disaster victims would not be tolerated.
The arrests happened while rescuers were searching for people missing after floods and landslides.
Nepal police arrested two men over the alleged removal of earrings from a deceased flood victim.
A viral 41-second video appeared to show the men pulling a woman’s body from the Narayani River using wooden planks and her hair.
The footage appeared to show earrings being removed from both ears and placed nearby; reports said they were believed to be gold.
Police identified the suspects as 25-year-old Madan Gurung or Madan Bhujel, and 38-year-old Umesh Chaudhary, reflecting differing reports.
The arrests occurred near Pokhara Bus Park in Bharatpur on Thursday amid a major flood and landslide rescue operation.
- Who
- Nepal police arrested Umesh Chaudhary, 38, and a 25-year-old man identified in different reports as Madan Gurung or Madan Bhujel.
- What
- The two men were detained over the alleged removal of earrings from a dead woman’s body.
- When
- The arrests were reported on Thursday; disaster figures cited in the reports were current as of Friday morning or noon.
- Where
- The body was swept into the Narayani River, and the suspects were arrested near Pokhara Bus Park in Bharatpur Metropolitan City.
- Why
- Police acted after a viral social-media video appeared to show the alleged theft.
- Suspects
- Umesh Chaudhary, 38, and a 25-year-old man identified as Madan Gurung or Madan Bhujel in differing reports
- Alleged items
- Earrings believed by reports to be gold
- Video
- A 41-second clip appeared to show the earrings being removed from both ears
- River
- Narayani River
- Arrest location
- Near Pokhara Bus Park in Bharatpur Metropolitan City
- Reported disaster toll
- Reports cited between 392 and 478 confirmed deaths and between 977 and more than 1,500 people missing or out of contact
- Disaster
- Flash floods and landslides affected a border region of China and Nepal
Sources
Caught on cam: Two arrested for stealing gold earrings from flood victim's body in Nepal
Nepal Floods: Two Men Detained for Stealing Gold Earrings from Flood Victim’s Body
They Dragged Nepal Flood Victim From River By Hair, Then Stole Her Earrings