The flood threat in Kushinagar has increased following a rise in the water level of Nepal’s Trishuli River, prompting the district administration to put sensitive areas along the Gandak River on high alert, officials said on Sunday. The administration has stepped up monitoring of the river’s water level and flow and advised people in vulnerable villages to remain alert and avoid going near the riverbanks.
India deployed a forensic team in Nepal to assist in analysing DNA samples and identifying the mortal remains of the victims of the flash floods, which claimed the lives of over 700. It also dispatched relief material to the flood hit neighbour.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava met the Indian forensic team deployed in the flood-hit country. “Ambassador Naveen Srivastava met members of the Indian Forensic Team deployed to Nepal. The team will work alongside their Nepali counterparts in analysing DNA samples to assist in identifying the mortal remains of the victims of the recent flash floods,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
Srivastava shared on X, “Met the members of Indian Forensic Team that arrived on 4th relief flight to Kathmandu. They will be working with their Nepali counterparts to support the analysis of DNA samples of those who lost their lives in the tragic flash flood in rasuwa. India will continue to strongly support the ongoing relief efforts of Nepal.
The deployment of the forensic team came on request of Nepal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal. Four Indian flights carrying relief supplies have reached Nepal, while more than 4,000 people were rescued and Kathmandu is seeking DNA support to identify bodies, he said earlier on Sunday.
“We are seeking additional support for forensic laboratories. We have found more than 600 bodies, many of them in very difficult conditions to identify. We need to conduct rapid DNA analysis, so we are seeking that kind of support and are actively engaged,” Khanal added.
The death toll in Nepal’s flash floods has reached 768, nearly 3,000 people remain missing, authorities in Kathmandu said on Sunday. Prime Minister said 4,451 people have been rescued so far, while the scale of humanitarian need keeps growing, with UNICEF warning that thousands of children require urgent assistance and international aid beginning to reach survivors in temporary camps.UNICEF has warned that at least 17,000 children need urgent humanitarian assistance. The International Committee of the Red Cross estimates at least 93,000 people have been affected by the disaster. Humanitarian aid is now reaching some of the survivors sheltering in temporary camps, though needs remain widespread.