Survivors in Nepal return to the remains of their homes as floodwaters recede, with authorities struggling to manage the rising death toll and identify victims.
Floodwaters have receded in parts of Nepal, revealing the remains of homes destroyed by the disaster. Authorities report that the death toll has reached 804 in Nepal and Tibet, with morgues overwhelmed by the number of bodies recovered from the thick, tar-like mud. The sheer volume of the dead has forced authorities to begin mass burials in Bharatpur, where each body is tagged with a location number and DNA samples are collected in an effort to identify the victims. However, the process is slow and difficult, as many bodies are unrecognizable and found far from their original locations.
In Chitwan, over 250 bodies have been found along the riverbanks, but only nine have been successfully identified. Survivors in Devighat, a town along the Trishuli River, describe the devastation and uncertainty of rebuilding their lives in a region now deemed unsafe. Many residents have returned to the ruins of their homes, some of which have been reduced to concrete blocks and twisted metal. With the river swelling again, residents are being urged to move to higher ground, as the precariousness of living near the Trishuli River becomes increasingly evident. For many, the flood has taken everything, leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the painful memories of what was lost.
Why it matters
Continued fatalities and displacement show the persistent danger of living near swollen rivers.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.
What to watch
Watch for further displacement as floodwaters continue to threaten Devighat residents.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.