How Nepal manages unidentified and unclaimed bodies
Summary
Nepal Police and hospitals are struggling to manage 788 unidentified and unclaimed bodies kept in mortuaries nationwide, with limited storage forcing disposal within months. Police say records, online photos, and local investigations help families trace missing relatives, but preservation time remains far shorter than international standards.
Key Points
- Nepal has 788 unidentified and unclaimed bodies currently being kept in hospital facilities across the country.
- Police begin local investigations, prepare inquest reports, and publish photos and details online to help identify the deceased.
- Hospitals such as Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and Patan Hospital have limited mortuary space and can preserve bodies only for months to about a year.
- Some unclaimed bodies are transferred to teaching institutions for medical education before final rites are performed.
