Rising Discovery of Bodies After Bhote Koshi-Trishuli Floods Increases Risk of Epidemic
Authorities have reported an increasing risk of epidemic as search efforts for missing persons continue following the devastating flood on Wednesday, with numerous bodies found across various locations. Ganesh Aryal, Chief District Officer of Chitwan, stated that managing the recovered bodies has presented additional challenges amid ongoing rescue and search operations. So far, 178 bodies have been recovered in Chitwan, comprising 74 men, 41 women, 6 boys, and 2 girls.
“Many of the bodies discovered yesterday (Thursday) were in a state of decomposition, heightening the challenge of managing them to prevent the spread of disease,” Aryal said. “We are coordinating closely with the central government on this matter.” Due to insufficient hospital capacity in Chitwan for storing bodies, a government office has been converted into a temporary morgue. Ishwar Joshi, working there, reported that foul odors have started emanating from the decomposing bodies. He stated, “I am currently in front of the morgue identification room. No new bodies have been brought in recently, but the bodies received yesterday have begun to decay and emit a strong odor.”
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has released figures indicating that 538 bodies have been recovered from the Bhote Koshi River flood so far. The number of people still unaccounted for stands at 977, with 73 injured. Among those missing are personnel from the police, army, armed police force, customs, and immigration offices, along with Nepali and foreign tourists. The authority also reported that 517 foreign nationals remain unaccounted for.
In order to curb the risk of an epidemic, the Ministry of Home Affairs is coordinating with the affected districts on how to manage the bodies amid rising death tolls. Deputy spokesperson Rama Acharya Subedi explained that discussions are ongoing on handling and transporting the recovered bodies to central locations in districts such as Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Chitwan, and Nawalparasi.
She said, “Coordination is underway wherever bodies have been found to determine how to manage them properly. All efforts are focused on the swift and organized handling of these bodies. Discussions continue with the relevant authority.” The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division has advised that the risk of an epidemic escalates as bodies continue to be found in the affected districts. Dr. Anuj Bhattchan, Director of the division, highlighted the challenge of storing bodies in cold storage due to decomposition and difficulties in identifying them.
Dr. Bhattchan stated, “The need to store bodies in cold storage, the arrival of a large number at the same time, and limited facility capacity all add to the challenges. For instance, bodies found in Dhading may need to be transferred to Kathmandu or Pokhara. Another issue is that many bodies are extensively damaged, making identification a lengthy process and necessitating cold storage, which is a significant challenge.”