Odisha Government Takes Action to Identify Missing Individuals After Nepal Floods

In response to the tragic floods in Nepal, the Odisha government has taken steps to identify four missing individuals by sending DNA test reports of their relatives. The floods, which occurred on August 26, resulted in significant loss of life and many missing persons. Among those unaccounted for are an NRI couple and a mother with her young child. The authorities are collaborating with the Indian Embassy and Nepalese government to facilitate the identification process. This article delves into the ongoing efforts and the impact of the disaster.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 18, 2026, 17:10 IST

Efforts to Identify Missing Persons Following Nepal's Tragedy

Bhubaneswar/Baragada: The Odisha government has dispatched DNA test results for the relatives of four individuals of Odisha origin who went missing after a catastrophic glacial collapse and subsequent flash floods in Nepal, as confirmed by an official on Friday.

This natural disaster struck the Himalayan region on August 26, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,410 individuals and leaving over 6,100 unaccounted for. Many bodies discovered are in a state of severe decomposition and remain unidentified.

The missing individuals, part of two families, disappeared during the floods, prompting the authorities to send DNA reports of their relatives to Nepal in an effort to identify the deceased, according to Pritish Panda, the nodal officer assigned to assist Odia citizens affected by the floods.

Among the missing are Sandeep Mohapatra and his wife Sidharthi Kumari Sahu, who had relocated from Khordha district in Odisha to Australia in 2018.

Additionally, Gunnam Saibindu and her 18-month-old daughter, Gunnam Hareeksha, from Baragada district, are also unaccounted for. Saibindu's husband, Gunnam Jay Krishna, is employed as an engineer on a hydropower project in Rasuwa district, Nepal, and was present at the site during the disaster. His wife and child were in a nearby colony, approximately 14 kilometers from the power plant, which was engulfed by floodwaters and debris.

"We have gathered DNA samples from the parents of the NRI couple and Saibindu Kumari, and these reports have been sent to both the Indian Embassy in Nepal and the Nepalese government. We will be notified once a match is found with any unidentified bodies," Panda stated.

So far, the bodies of 1,410 individuals have been recovered from the eight districts impacted by the floods, with a total of 13,756 people rescued from the affected areas.