Nepal Declares National Mourning On Sept 7; India To Conduct DNA Profiling Of Missing Victims' Kin As 1259 Dead

Nepal Flash Floods: The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal surged to 1,259 on Thursday, with over 5,000 people still missing and thousands displaced across the affected regions.

National Day Of Mourning On September 7

Prime Minister Balendra Shah's cabinet has decided to observe a national day of mourning in Nepal on September 7, marking the 13th day since the disaster. According to Hindu tradition, the 13th day marks the end of the mourning period.

ALSO READ: Tibet Earthquake: 5.0-Magnitude Tremors Felt Days After Deadly Nepal Flash Floods Claimed Over 1200 Lives

DNA Profiling For Relatives Of Persons Missing In Nepal Floods

To facilitate the ongoing identification process, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to make DNA profiling services available across India for first-degree biological relatives of individuals missing following the flash floods in Nepal.

First-degree biological relatives residing in India, specifically parents, children, and siblings, can submit samples at any of the following facilities:

- Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs)

- State Forensic Science Laboratories (SFSLs)

- National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) laboratories

- NABL-accredited laboratories with DNA profiling capabilities

7,500 Homes Damaged, 20,000 To Rebuild

According to Dharmaraj Uprety, head of Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), initial estimates indicate that 7,500 houses have been completely destroyed, washed away, or buried under debris and mud, leaving even standing structures uninhabitable.

Officials estimate that approximately 20,000 homes will need to be rebuilt in safer locations. Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal told foreign ambassadors in Kathmandu that the rebuilding process will require substantial resources.

1,400 Citizens Stranded In Tibet, 583 Foreigners Missing In Nepal

Rescue operations are currently underway across affected regions. While 114 Nepali nationals stranded in Tibet have been rescued and arrangements have been made for their safe return, approximately 1,400 citizens remain stranded at the Kerung border point in Tibet, and 583 foreign nationals are reported missing in Nepal.

Search Continues For 900 Trapped In Hydropower Tunnels

Meanwhile, a military official said that a search is underway for about 900 people trapped in tunnels connected to hydropower projects, in collaboration with experts from India, South Korea, and China. Military spokesman Raja Ram Basnet stated that two bodies have been recovered from a tunnel at the Langtang Khola hydropower plant.

ALSO READ: Nepal Floods: 1,252 Dead, Over 4,000 Missing As Search For Survivors Continues; Drone Captures Devastation In Devighat

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava on Thursday visited Syabrubesi to inspect rescue operations being carried out by Indian and Nepali teams.

(With Inputs From Jagran.com)

You May Also Like To Watch