Kathmandu: Two men have been arrested in Nepal after a disturbing video allegedly showing them removing gold earrings from the body of a woman who died in the devastating floods went viral on social media.
Video sparks outrage
The 41-second video shows two men pulling a woman’s body from the Narayani River using wooden planks and her hair.
The men are then allegedly seen removing earrings from both ears of the deceased woman and keeping them aside, while several people appear to watch and record the incident.
The video triggered widespread outrage, prompting Nepal Police to investigate the incident.
Suspects arrested in Bharatpur
Nepal Police said the woman had been swept into the Narayani River during the massive floods.
Based on the video, police identified the suspects as 25-year-old Madan Gurung and 38-year-old Umesh Chaudhary.
According to police, the two were arrested near Pokhara Bus Park in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-1 on Thursday.
Police stressed that looting or any other inhumane activity targeting victims during the disaster would not be tolerated.
Rescue operations continue
The arrests come as Nepal continues to deal with the devastating aftermath of flash floods and landslides.
More than 1,400 people have reportedly been listed as missing, while the death toll has risen to at least 392, according to the source.
Several villages have been swept away, while rescue teams continue searching affected areas.
Across the border in Tibet, a massive mudslide also struck the Gyirong Port border crossing, engulfing a multi-storey port building and covering a bus parking area.
The disaster has severely damaged roads and infrastructure, while authorities have warned of the possibility of further landslides and secondary collapses as rain continues.
The arrests over the alleged theft from a deceased flood victim have added another disturbing dimension to a disaster that has already caused widespread loss of life and displacement.