Nepal flood victims' bodies overwhelm morgues, prompt temporary storage

Nepal is grappling with the grim task of storing and identifying bodies of victims swept away by the devastating Bhotekoshi flood. The remains are turning up in districts far from where they were lost, creating a logistical nightmare for authorities.

Morgues in Nuwakot, Dhading, and Nawalparasi are already at capacity, with some bodies being transferred to neighboring districts. In Chitwan, where a significant number of recoveries have exceeded hospital capabilities, officials are establishing a temporary storage facility in Bharatpur. Hospitals in Pokhara are also reporting full morgues due to the influx of bodies from multiple affected districts.

The temporary facility in Bharatpur, an unused building of the Industrial Enterprise Development Institute, is being prepared to house approximately 250 bodies. Authorities are taking measures to control the temperature, install air conditioners, and use dry ice to slow decomposition. If this capacity is also exceeded, the electric crematorium at Devghat is being considered as an additional option.

As the recovery efforts continue, families of those missing since the flood began arriving in Chitwan. They are anxiously searching for information about their loved ones, with some having traveled from districts like Rasuwa and Nuwakot. The scene at the temporary center is one of quiet desperation, with relatives waiting under the intense heat for any news, clutching photographs of the missing.

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Morgues at hospitals in Chitwan can collectively accommodate between 30 and 50 bodies at a time. With that capacity already under pressure, the temporary centre is expected to provide space for about 250 bodies.