Nepal on Sunday sought India's support for forensic laboratories and rapid DNA analysis to identify more than 600 bodies recovered in the flash floods,
even as over 4,000 people have been rescued in the past three days, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said. Many of the bodies remain in "very difficult conditions to identify," Khanal said, adding that four Indian relief flights have already arrived in Nepal as rescue operations continue. Khanal said, "The government is making every possible effort for rescue. We are still in the rescue stage. I have personally just arrived and am yet to receive full field-level briefings. Over the last three days, we have rescued more than 4,000 individuals. More than 600 people have been found dead, and active rescue operations are underway." Khanal said Nepal had also sought specialised support for tunnel rescue operations, with an expert team arriving in the country over the past two days. "We had asked for experts to support us with tunnel rescue, and the team arrived yesterday and the day before yesterday," he said. "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 said. The Nepalese Foreign Minister also said he had spoken with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar over the phone and expressed gratitude for India's assistance. "I have spoken with my counterpart, His Excellency S Jaishankar, over the phone, and we are very grateful for all the support the Government of India has provided to us," he said. His remarks come as the death toll as of Firday morning from the Bhote Koshi flood disaster in Nepal had risen to 734, while 2419 people remain missing or out of contact, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). Earlier, India sent its fourth flight to Kathmandu carrying essential supplies and specialised technical capabilities to support Nepal's ongoing rescue and relief operations. In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar said, "The fourth Indian flight has touched down in Kathmandu. It brings essential supplies and technical capabilities to support Nepal's ongoing rescue & relief operations." Indian Embassy in Nepal, through its official handle on X, 'India in Nepal', said the fourth flight was carrying 11 tons of relief materials, which had been handed over to Nepal. "With Nepal. The fourth flight, carrying 11 tons of relief materials, has arrived in Nepal, and those relief materials have been handed over. This includes a tunnel technical team equipped for search and rescue operations, a team of forensic experts for DNA analysis, and relief materials such as blankets, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, plastic sheets, and hygiene kits." Unidentified bodies recovered during the operations have been kept across 21 hospitals in various districts, the NDRRMA said. The Government of Nepal has provided NPR 10 million each to Rasuwa and Nuwakot, NPR 5 million to Dhading and NPR 67.5 million to 15 local municipalities as cash assistance. Amidst the widespread destruction caused by flash floods in Nepal, a group of around 100 tourists from Nagpur who were stranded in the Himalayan nation returned home safely on Sunday, with pilgrims recalling their narrow escape from the calamity. Meanwhile, the flow in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa has reportedly increased further, urging personnel involved in search, rescue and relief operations to exercise utmost caution. In a post on X, NDRRMA said, "Alert: The flow of the flood in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa has reportedly increased further." The authority urged all personnel engaged in search, rescue and relief operations in affected areas, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan, as well as surrounding regions, to remain vigilant. NDRRMA further said, "Therefore, all personnel engaged in search, rescue, and relief operations in affected areas including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan, and surrounding regions, as well as those in riparian zones and other relevant parties, are requested to exercise utmost caution." The disaster management authority said it would continue to monitor the situation and provide further information. "We will provide updates as soon as further information is received," NDRRMA said. The threat of a glacier-formed lake bursting near the China-Nepal border has eased, Chinese authorities said on Saturday, as satellite data showed the reservoir steadily shrinking. Following the Wednesday floods, experts have warned that the region remains at high risk of secondary disasters, particularly from lakes formed by glacial debris, which could endanger ongoing rescue operations downstream. The disaster, believed to have been triggered by a collapse or avalanche of ice and rock in the Himalayan region near the Nepal-Tibet border, sent a massive torrent of water, mud and debris downstream through central Nepal on Wednesday, devastating towns and villages in several districts, sweeping away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges and damaging hydropower projects.
