A total of 359 people have been confirmed dead so far in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli flood.
According to Nepal Police, the number of deaths had reached 359 as of 5 p.m. Thursday.
The bodies recovered include 17 in Rasuwa, 33 in Dhading, 30 in Gorkha, 82 in Nawalparasi East, 28 in Nuwakot, 132 in Chitwan, 22 in Tanahun, and 15 in Nawalparasi West.
Temporary facility set up in Chitwan to store bodies
Police said that 130 bodies swept downstream by the flood have been recovered in Chitwan.
According to Superintendent of Police Rameshwar Paudel, chief of the District Police Office, Chitwan, more bodies could be found as search operations continue in the Narayani River.
“So far, 130 bodies have been recovered in Chitwan. The search is still ongoing,” he said.
According to SP Paudel, 64 bodies are currently being kept at various hospitals in Chitwan. A temporary facility has been set up to accommodate the remaining bodies.
SP Paudel said that preparations are underway to equip a room at the Industrial Enterprise Development Institute building with sub-zero temperatures for the proper management and preservation of the bodies.
He added that bodies are being washed and cleaned at hospitals to help with the identification process.
“The bodies are being washed and cleaned at the hospitals for identification. We are then preparing to keep them at the temporary facility under sub-zero temperatures,” he said.
39 bodies brought to Pokhara due to space shortage
Meanwhile, the bodies of 39 people swept downstream by the Bhotekoshi flood have been brought to Pokhara.
According to Kaski Assistant Chief District Officer Chitrangat Baral, the bodies were brought to Pokhara due to a shortage of space to store them in Tanahun and Nawalpur. Of the 39 bodies, nine were recovered in Tanahun and 30 in Nawalpur.
“Thirty-nine bodies have been brought to Pokhara because there was no space to keep them in Tanahun and Nawalpur,” he said. “There are also plans to send more bodies here.”
The identities of the bodies swept downstream by the flood have not yet been established.
The bodies brought to Pokhara have been kept at the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, Gandaki Medical College, Manipal Medical College, and Charak Hospital.
According to Baral, authorities have received reports that 16 people from Kaski are missing in the Bhotekoshi flood.
Their families have informed the administration that their relatives were caught in the flood and have requested search efforts.
“The number of missing people is also continuing to rise. More bodies are being brought to Pokhara,” Baral said. “We will manage them to the best of our capacity.”
According to Baral, Pokhara has the capacity to accommodate 72 bodies at a time.
