Floods Transform the Face of Nepal: Forests Turn into Mass Graves

Kathmandu (Agencies): The Chitwan region of Nepal, known for its forests and rivers, has turned into a site of mass graves for hundreds of unidentified bodies swept away by catastrophic floods that struck the Himalayan region on the border with China days ago. Authorities have dug hundreds of graves in the Devghat forest, about 200 kilometers from the flood-ravaged Rasuwa Valley. Until recently, forest trails were a popular destination for picnics, but they have now become a temporary burial ground for bodies that have decomposed to the point that identification is impossible. Ganesh Aryal, the chief administrative officer in Bharatpur, Chitwan, said authorities had no other choice, citing the public health risks posed by the rapid decomposition of the bodies. On Saturday, authorities buried 96 unidentified bodies, and on Sunday, more than 100 others, as rescue operations continued to recover bodies from rivers and piles of rubble. Around 100 rescue workers, police officers, and other officials are involved in documenting and photographing the bodies, helping families identify their loved ones, recording burial sites, and placing markers to allow for future exhumation. Authorities have also taken DNA samples from the unidentified bodies, enabling future exhumation if owners can be identified through families, official records, or genetic testing. India has sent a forensic team to assist, while Nepal is also in contact with a Chinese team. At the Chitwan Exhibition Center, more than 200 people gathered, hoping to see photos of the recovered bodies in order to identify their missing relatives. At Bharatpur Hospital, the number of bodies has exceeded the morgue’s capacity, with about 125 bodies stored in a facility designed to hold only 50. Many showed signs of advanced decomposition after remaining in floodwaters for days.