Devastated by floods and overwhelmed by bodies, Nepalis weep for what remains of their homes

Devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet have resulted in over 800 deaths, overwhelming local morgues and forcing authorities to conduct mass burials. Officials are struggling to identify victims, using DNA samples and digital slideshows to assist grieving families.
Why it matters
The scale of the disaster highlights the severe impact of climate-related extreme weather events on infrastructure and public health in the Himalayan region.
A Devighat resident retrieves some of his belongings. A Devighat resident retrieves some of his belongings. Nepal-Tibet flood disaster Devastated by floods and overwhelmed by bodies, Nepalis weep for what remains of their homes Relatives of those missing have been given PowerPoint slideshows of recovered bodies in effort to speed up identification of the dead
Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Devighat Sun 30 Aug 2026 12.39 EDT Last modified on Sun 30 Aug 2026 21.30 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google The bodies continue to wash up. But the morgues have already run out of room.
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