By Bomlal Giri/Amar Raj Naharki, Nawalpur/ Tanahun, Aug. 29: More than 100 bodies and human remains swept downstream by the devastating Bhotekoshi flood have been recovered from various riverside areas of Nawalpur district.
The bodies were found in badly mutilated condition, making identification difficult. According to the District Police Office, only one woman has been identified so far.
Information Officer at the District Police Office, Deputy Superintendent of Police Anil Pandit, said 154 bodies and 49 human remains had been recovered so far. Of the identified bodies by gender and age, 34 were women, 54 were men and 19 were children, while the remaining 24 consisted only of body parts.
The highest number of bodies, 101, were recovered in the Gaindakot area, followed by 20 in Madhyabindu Municipality, 12 in Binayi Tribeni Rural Municipality, nine in Devchuli and 12 in Kawasoti. Police said 48 bodies were being kept at Gaindakot Municipal Hospital, 48 at Madhyabindu Provincial Hospital and five at Madhyabindu Municipal Hospital. Similarly, 41 bodies have been sent to Gandaki Hospital in Pokhara, while eight have been sent to various hospitals in Palpa district.
As bodies continue to be recovered along the Narayani River, search and rescue operations have been intensified with the mobilisation of teams from the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and local residents, said District Police Office Chief Superintendent of Police Yuva Raj Khadka. The District Administration Office has urged families whose relatives remain missing to contact the nearest security agency or Gaindakot Municipal Hospital to assist in the identification process.
28 bodies recovered in Tanahun
Meanwhile, our district correspondent Amar Raj Naharki reported that as search efforts continue for people swept away by Wednesday’s devastating flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa, 28 bodies have so far been recovered in Tanahun district.
The bodies, which were swept downstream through the Trishuli River, were recovered from the Devghat and Aanbukhaireni areas, according to the District Police Office, Tanahun.
Police said nine bodies were recovered on Wednesday and sent to Gandaki Hospital in Pokhara for identification and necessary procedures. A further 19 bodies were recovered on Thursday. Of these, 14 were sent to Gandaki Hospital in Pokhara, while five have been kept at Damauli Hospital.
Superintendent of Police Tek Bahadur Karki, Chief of the District Police Office, Tanahun, said a total of 28 bodies had been recovered within the district so far. Police said procedures were under way to identify the recovered bodies. Once identified, the bodies will be handed over to the respective families in coordination with them.
Police teams have also been deployed along the Trishuli River to search for additional bodies swept downstream by the flood. Search and rescue operations are being conducted at various locations under the leadership of SP Karki.
According to the District Police Office, additional teams have been deployed under the command of Deputy Superintendent of Police Dwarika Prasad Ghimire, Inspectors Pradeep Subedi, Ashish Pokhrel and Amrit Lamichhane.
As there could be more bodies along the banks and surrounding areas of the Trishuli River, police said search and rescue operations would continue on Friday.
The District Police Office, Tanahun, urged the public to inform the police immediately if they spot any bodies along the riverbank or in nearby areas.
The Rising Nepal
