After days of dealing with bodies instead of patients, Bharatpur Hospital has returned to its regular medical services after authorities began temporarily burying unidentified flood victims and brought in additional forensic teams to ease the pressure on its overwhelmed morgue.

The hospital, which serves patients from Chitwan and 22 surrounding districts, had been forced to divert staff and resources from medical care as bodies swept downstream from the Bhotekoshi flood began arriving in large numbers. By Monday, the morgue had been cleared enough for doctors and health workers to resume routine services.

“From Monday, patients have again been able to receive services in the usual numbers,” said Bishwobandhu Bagale, the hospital’s medical superintendent.

The pressure began to ease after authorities started temporarily burying the unidentified bodies. In Chitwan, 199 bodies were buried over two days, with 103 buried on Sunday after 96 the previous day. Before the burials, forensic teams collected DNA samples and recorded other identifying details so that relatives could potentially identify and claim the remains later.

The move cleared space at Bharatpur Hospital and allowed doctors to return their attention to regular medical services.

Chitwan has recovered 321 bodies, the highest number in any district affected by the August 26 disaster. Across Nepal and in neighbouring India, authorities had recovered 1,056 bodies by Tuesday afternoon, while 4,606 people remained missing. Nationwide, 684 unidentified bodies had been temporarily buried after authorities completed the necessary forensic and identification procedures.

For Bharatpur Hospital, the crisis had begun with preparations for an entirely different emergency.

When the flood struck on August 26, officials expected injured survivors from downstream areas to arrive for treatment. They discussed discharging some admitted patients to free up beds and kept the hospital ready for a possible surge in casualties.

But as the floodwaters receded, the expected wave of injured patients did not materialise. Instead, bodies began washing up along the banks of the Narayani and Trishuli rivers.

“We knew some bodies might be swept downstream, but we thought perhaps 20 or 25 would arrive,” Bagale said. “We were not prepared to handle anything on this scale.”

As bodies continued to wash up along the Chitwan-side banks of the two rivers, authorities established a temporary collection centre at the premises of the Chitwan Association of Industries.

Bodies recovered from the riverbanks were first brought to Bharatpur Hospital and examined. Forensic teams photographed the faces, collected personal belongings and other identifying evidence, and extracted DNA samples before transferring the bodies to the temporary centre.

The hospital’s morgue has 24 refrigerated compartments, but only five were vacant when officials received word that around 20 bodies were on their way.

Even under normal circumstances, the morgue has to accommodate unclaimed bodies, which can be kept for up to 35 days before final disposal procedures begin.

Within days, however, the flood overwhelmed its capacity.

Bodies filled the refrigerators and then the morgue corridor. When there was no more room, hospital staff erected tarpaulins outside and used open areas to store the remains. Eventually, newly recovered bodies could not even be unloaded from the trucks and police vehicles that brought them to the hospital.

“We had to divert our attention from treatment to managing bodies,” Bagale said.

The shortage of space also made forensic work more difficult. Doctors needed room to examine the bodies, document identifying evidence, and collect DNA samples. Keeping remains inside vehicles as decomposition progressed also intensified the stench around the hospital.

The hospital initially relied on its two forensic specialists, who formed two teams and began processing bodies on August 27.

“That day, we managed to complete all the required forensic procedures for 22 bodies,” Bagale said.

But the bodies kept coming.

By August 28, the hospital had run out of space. Staff could not unload newly arrived bodies from the vehicles transporting them, and some remained inside two police vehicles until the evening of August 29, Bagale said.

The hospital then brought in additional specialists to cope with the workload. Seven forensic doctors eventually worked on the identification process, while another seven doctors were assigned specifically to collect DNA samples.

“We did not lack equipment or expensive resources,” Bagale said. “The main challenge was manpower. Once we were able to arrange additional personnel quickly, the work became much easier.”

Police officers worked around the clock at the morgue and recovery sites, while ambulance and hearse drivers helped transport bodies between the riverbanks, hospital and temporary collection centre.

“Everyone contributed significantly,” Bagale said.

But even with additional manpower, the hospital could not continue storing the remains indefinitely.

The District Security Committee decided to collect DNA samples and other identifying details before temporarily burying unidentified bodies. The arrangement leaves open the possibility of identifying the remains later through DNA matching and returning them to their families.

The decision brought immediate relief to Bharatpur Hospital.

By Monday, the morgue had been cleared, and the hospital had returned to normal operations. Only bags containing recovered human remains were still being kept there, pending further forensic examination and documentation.

For families searching for missing relatives, however, the crisis is far from over. Of the 321 bodies recovered in Chitwan, only 12 have so far been formally identified and handed over to relatives. Across the disaster zone, authorities are continuing to collect DNA samples and other evidence as families search for the 4,606 people still missing.