Nepal floods death toll rises to 1,127 as police continue search, rescue and identification operations

The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 1127 according to the Nepal Police as search rescue and identification operations continue across several affected districtsThe scale of the disaster has created a major challenge for authorities with a large number of bodies yet to be formally identified Of the 1127 bodies recovered so far only 95 have been identified and handed over to their families police saidThe floods have affected multiple districts with Chitwan accounting for the highest number of bodies recoveredChitwan reports highest number of bodies recoveredAccording to Nepal Police 348 bodies have been recovered from Chitwan district followed by 217 from Nawalparasi East and 190 from Nawalparasi WestAuthorities have also recovered 155 bodies from Nuwakot 66 from Gorkha 59 from Dhading 45 from Rasuwa and 38 from TanahunThe police further reported that nine bodies linked to the disaster have been recovered in IndiaSearch teams continue to recover bodies from floodhit areas and river corridors raising concerns that the death toll could increase further as operations continue and more inaccessible areas are reachedMost recovered bodies yet to be identifiedThe identification of victims remains one of the major challenges facing authorities in the aftermath of the disasterOf the bodies recovered so far only 95 have been handed over to families after formal identificationA day earlier Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah said the government was following legal and scientific procedures to manage the bodies of those who died in the floods particularly in cases where identification was not immediately possibleThe government is managing only those bodies that are found in an unidentifiable condition while preserving DNA samples and other evidence that could assist in their identification he saidThe Prime Minister said the authorities were preserving evidence that could help establish the identities of victims at a later stageArmy police and armed force involved in body managementThe bodies are being managed with the assistance of the Nepali Army Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force Nepal Identified bodies are being handed over to their familiesThe involvement of multiple security and emergency agencies reflects the scale of the operation with authorities simultaneously conducting search and rescue missions recovering bodies and collecting forensic evidence for identificationThe government has also sought to ensure that victims whose identities cannot immediately be established are managed in a manner that preserves the possibility of future identificationIndian and Chinese tunnel rescue teams deployedMeanwhile Nepals Ministry of Foreign Affairs said specialised international tunnel rescue teams from India and China had been mobilised alongside the Nepal Army at critical hydropower sites following the catastrophic flash floods in the Bhote Koshi River regionThe deployment is aimed at supporting highrisk operations in tunnels and other underground areas affected by the floods where access remains difficult and conventional rescue equipment may have limited useSpeaking at the ministrys fourth official press briefing in Kathmandu spokesperson and Head of the Public Diplomacy Division Lok Bahadur Chhetri said targeted international technical assistance was being used for complex rescue operationsGovernment says saving lives remains the priorityAs we have stated our immediate national priority remains clear to save lives locate those who are missing rescue survivors provide urgent relief and ensure that all affected people both Nepali and foreign nationals receive appropriate assistance and support Chhetri statedWith inputs from ANI