Kathmandu: Hundreds of unidentified bodies recovered after devastating floods in Nepal are being buried instead of cremated so that their remains can be preserved for DNA testing and eventual identification, according to the report.
The bodies have deteriorated badly after remaining submerged or buried under water and mud for prolonged periods. Many have swollen and begun decomposing rapidly, making identification increasingly difficult.
Mortuaries and temporary body storage centres have also reached capacity, leaving authorities with limited options to preserve the bodies for longer periods. As a result, unidentified victims are being buried in mass graves so their remains can later be recovered for DNA analysis.
The floods that struck on August 26 have reportedly claimed 1,066 lives, including 1,050 in Nepal and 16 in Tibet. More than 4,400 people remain missing, according to the figures cited in the report.
