From our special correspondent in Nepal – More than a week after the devastating flood in the Himalayas, the Nepalese authorities are trying to identify the bodies of the victims of the disaster. Families of the missing have been crowding into DNA sample collection centers since Monday in the hope of being able to recover the remains of their loved ones.
Published on: 09/03/2026 - 11:19 Modified on: 09/03/2026 - 11:46
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The project promises to be colossal for the Nepalese authorities: identifying the bodies of the victims of the disaster that occurred on August 26 in the Himalayas. The process promises to be complex as the remains were tortured by the extreme violence of the mudslide which carried bodies tens of kilometers.
To help identify the victims, the Nepalese police began, Monday, September 1, to take DNA samples from relatives of the missing to populate a database. Those who have not come to Nepal will be able to submit their genetic profile online.
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Parents, children, brothers or sisters therefore flock to DNA sample collection centers established near the disaster areas. The results will then be compared to the bodies found by rescuers.
"People come here with their identity papers. We record their data then our technician takes blood samples. Given the current situation, we think that DNA sampling is the best way to identify the bodies," a Nepalese police officer told France 24.
Remains already buried
After scouring morgues and hospitals, DNA tests constitute the last hope of finding the remains of a loved one for families still without news of their loved ones.
“I am 99% sure that he will not be found alive due to the nature of the area where he was, but I hope that the government can at least give me my son's body,” says a Nepalese father. "That's why I came here to provide a sample. I hope I can recover his body."
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To avoid health risks, "the authorities have started to bury unidentified bodies after taking DNA samples. Families are trying to find out if their samples match in order to be able to recover the remains", explains Ondine de Gaulle, our special correspondent.
To begin to mourn, some families do not wait until they have recovered the bodies of their loved ones and organize symbolic funeral ceremonies where, according to Hindu tradition, they cremate straw dummies.
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