Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Nepal Buries Unidentified Flood Victims Amid Morgue Space Shortage
Flash floods in Nepal caused many deaths and left thousands of people missing.
Some bodies were found along two rivers.
Local morgues do not have enough space to keep all of them.
Officials are therefore burying unidentified bodies in a forest.
Before burial, they collect DNA and write down details about each body.
Each body gets its own code and identification tag.
Officials also record photographs, videos, and the exact grave location.
This means families may still be able to identify and recover a body later.
Nepali authorities are burying unidentified bodies recovered from the Trishuli and Narayani riverbanks in a Chitwan forest.
The burials follow flash floods that have killed hundreds and left thousands missing.
DNA samples and identification records are collected before each body is buried.
Six recovered bodies have already been identified and handed over to their families.
Authorities are using individual codes, tags, photographs, videos, GPS mapping, fencing, and security measures.
- Who
- Nepali authorities are handling the recovered bodies and coordinating identification and burial procedures.
- What
- Authorities are separately burying unidentified bodies after collecting DNA samples and preparing identification records.
- When
- Following recent devastating flash floods; the report is timestamped 14:50.
- Where
- In a forest area in Chitwan, after bodies were recovered from the Trishuli and Narayani riverbanks.
- Why
- Morgues lack sufficient space, and the bodies could not be frozen.
- Affected area
- Trishuli and Narayani riverbanks, from Fisling to Ghumghatte and Triveni
- Burial location
- A forest area in Chitwan, Nepal
- Identified bodies
- Six bodies have been handed over to their families
- Identification process
- DNA samples and identification records are collected before burial
- Body marking
- Each body receives an indelible tag and a unique sequential code
- Grave documentation
- Authorities are using photographs, videos, and GPS coordinates
- Flood impact
- Hundreds have died and thousands remain missing