Temporary Burials Draw Backlash Following Disaster in Nepal
Temporary graves were opened for unidentified victims of the floods in Nepal as identification could not be made, sparking controversy due to Hindu traditions.
In the south-central Chitwan district of Nepal, temporary mass graves have begun to be dug for hundreds of unidentified individuals who lost their lives in severe floods and landslides. While authorities cited insufficient forensic capacity and health risks, families and the public reacted against the practice, stating it violates Hindu funeral traditions.
The Toll of the Flood Disaster Was Heavy
At least 800 people lost their lives as a result of devastating floods and landslides in the Himalayan region. More than 3,000 people continue to be searched for as missing across Nepal and Tibet.
Bodies dragged hundreds of kilometers along the Bhotekoshi River were pulled from the water by rescue teams in the Chitwan district, revealing the scale of the disaster.
Identification and Temporary Graves
While approximately 250 bodies were kept for identification in the Chitwan district, authorities temporarily buried about 100 victims on Saturday in large trenches that had been dug.
Police Inspector Anil Thapa stated that DNA samples were taken before the bodies were buried, distinctive facial features were photographed, and reference numbers were subsequently assigned so that families could find them.
Health Risks and Infrastructure Problems
The decomposition process of bodies that remained in floodwaters for days, combined with the region's limited forensic infrastructure and morgue capacity, made the job of authorities difficult.
High humidity and temperature accelerating decomposition caused health experts to warn that leaving bodies out in the open could increase the risk of disease.
Hindu Traditions and Reactions
Because the dead are traditionally cremated in predominantly Hindu Nepal, the hurried burial of unidentified individuals was criticized by families and some public figures.
Relatives of the missing argued that burials should not be carried out without family approval, while former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai stated that burial procedures were inappropriate before search and rescue efforts concluded.