Bhotekoshi flood death toll: 1,252, over 4,200 still missing

Authorities have recovered the bodies of 1,252 people who died in the Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa, according to Nepal Police and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA)’s latest bulletin with updates as of 12 noon on Thursday.

The bodies have been recovered from several districts affected by the floods. Nepal Police said 127 bodies were found in Rasuwa, 177 in Nuwakot, 60 in Dhading, 355 in Chitwan, 69 in Gorkha, 38 in Tanahun, 218 in Nawalparasi East and 190 in Nawalparasi West. Eighteen bodies were also recovered in India and handed over to Nawalparasi West authorities.

The latest bulletin reported a slightly different figure for Nawalparasi West, putting the number at 208. The combined total reported by the authority remains 1,252.

Of the bodies recovered, 95 have so far been handed over to family members as reported by PM Balen Shah on Wednesday at the parliament.

Authorities are continuing efforts to identify the unidentified bodies. Police have collected DNA samples and completed other necessary procedures as part of the identification process.

According to Nepal Police, 897 bodies have been securely buried after the required procedures. Of these, 213 were identified as women, 314 as men, while the 370 bodies had not been determined.

Details of 959 unidentified bodies have been published on the Nepal Police website to help with identification and the tracing of relatives.

Search operations for people still missing are continuing in the flood-affected areas. Nepal Police said 7,912 personnel have so far been deployed for rescue, search, relief distribution and management of recovered bodies.

NDRRMA reported that 4,216 people remain unaccounted for. A separate Nepal Police figure with updates as of 10 am Thursday puts the number of people still being searched for at 4,875.

The disaster has also displaced thousands of people. According to Nepal Police, 3,126 people are currently staying at holding centers in districts including Nuwakot and Rasuwa.

NDRRMA said 11,993 people have been rescued so far, while 5,135 people have sustained injuries in the floods.

Search and rescue operations remain underway in the affected districts, with authorities continuing to look for missing people, identify recovered bodies and provide assistance to those displaced by the flooding.