Prakrit has already lost her father. As Nepal’s morgues fill, she hopes her DNA can be used to find her mother
A week on from the flash flooding disaster, authorities are urging relatives of the thousands of missing and dead to provide blood samples
TL;DR
- Authorities in Nepal are collecting blood samples from relatives to identify thousands of flood victims, as morgues are overwhelmed.
- Prakrit Gurung, 19, is among those providing DNA in hopes of identifying her mother's body.
- Australian citizens with missing relatives in Nepal are also participating in the DNA collection process.
- Rescue and aid efforts are severely hampered in the upper Rasuwa district and other remote areas due to damaged infrastructure, including roads and bridges.
- Some villages along the Chinese border have been cut off for a week, with no contact established.
- Aid organizations like Save the Children are distributing essential supplies such as tents, blankets, and hygiene kits, but face access challenges.
- Concerns are rising about the potential spread of disease, water contamination, and child trafficking in the disaster-affected regions.
- Over 1,000 people are confirmed dead, and nearly 4,000 are reported missing, including 38 Australians.