The number of confirmed victims of the devastating flood in the Himalayas has surpassed 900. The bodies of 903 deceased individuals were found in Nepal, the Kathmandu emergency management agency stated on Monday, August 31. Thus, the total number of fatalities, including officially confirmed data from China, amounts to at least 919 people. Additionally, the number of missing persons in Nepal has also significantly increased, reaching 4247 individuals, including 592 foreigners. In China, 546 people are reported missing, among them three German citizens. ## ## Thousands are participating in the rescue operation In the natural disaster zone in southwestern Tibet and in the affected areas of Nepal, thousands of rescuers are involved in the operation to search for the missing. Among other things, their efforts are focused on several affected hydroelectric power stations. It is believed that hundreds of workers are trapped in the tunnel of one of the dams. The rescue operation is complicated by rising water levels and bad weather, with serious concerns about the risk of new landslides and floods. New rains are forecasted for the region in the coming days. Assisting the affected population in the region is also a challenging task. Floods and landslides have destroyed important roads and bridges, including the main highway connecting Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, with the southern regions of the country. ## ## The deceased are buried in mass graves According to reports from news agencies and local media, Nepal has begun burying unidentified bodies in mass graves. DNA samples are taken from the deceased, and identifying marks are placed on the bodies so that relatives can retrieve them later. In the Hindu country, the deceased are traditionally cremated, so burials are seen as temporary storage until relatives can collect the bodies, AFP explains. This decision has faced criticism on social media due to the violation of traditional burial procedures, notes dpa. According to Nepalese authorities, a large number of bodies have been found in the southern part of the country, tens of kilometers away from the actual flood zones. The Chitwan district administration on the border with India stated that many of the deceased are found in a state of significant decomposition, making quick identification impossible. Experts also warn of the risks of epidemics.
