Kathmandu: The death toll from last week's devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 903, disaster management authorities reported on Monday. This surge in casualties brings the confirmed death toll in both Nepal and China to at least 919. The number of people missing in Nepal has sharply increased to 4,247, including 592 foreigners, while 546 people remain unaccounted for in China.
According to Ghana News Agency, thousands of rescue workers are continuing their efforts to search for victims and recover bodies in the affected areas of Nepal and south-western Tibet in China. Many bodies have been found in southern Nepal, dozens of kilometers away from the areas hardest hit by the floods. The decision to conduct mass burials in Nepal has sparked controversy in the predominantly Hindu country, where cremation is traditionally practiced. Authorities are taking DNA samples, photographs, and other identifying information before burials to help families identify their loved ones later.
A police spokesman told the Kathmandu Post that their absolute priority is to return every victim to their families. However, in cases where visual identification is no longer possible and remains are decomposing, authorities are securing DNA profiles before proceeding with burials.
Meanwhile, rescue efforts in Nepal are also focusing on several hydropower plants that sustained damage from mud and debris. Hundreds of workers are believed to be trapped in multiple tunnels at these sites in the Himalayan mountain range, with operations being hindered by rising water levels and adverse weather conditions.
In China, teams are striving to reopen a critical access road to facilitate the transport of heavy equipment into the disaster-hit area. However, the ongoing risk of landslides and further flooding is complicating these efforts. The forecast predicts more rain in the region in the coming days.