Two men have been arrested in Nepal after a disturbing video emerged showing them allegedly taking gold earrings from the body of a woman who was swept downstream during devastating floods.
The incident came to light as rescue operations continued across flood-hit parts of Nepal, where flash floods and landslides have left hundreds dead and more than a thousand people missing.
According to Chitwan Police, the woman’s body had been carried into the Narayani River by the powerful floodwaters. A 41-second video of the incident later circulated widely online, prompting authorities to investigate.
Viral video triggers police action
The footage reportedly showed two men pulling the woman’s body out of the water using wooden planks and her hair. They were then seen removing earrings from both ears and placing them aside.
Several people could be seen around the scene, with some appearing to record the incident on their phones.
Nepal Police later reshared the video while announcing that two suspects had been taken into custody over the alleged theft.
Police identified the suspects as 25-year-old Madan Gurung and 38-year-old Umesh Chaudhary. According to Nepali media reports, the two were arrested near Pokhara Bus Park in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-1 on Thursday.
Authorities said such acts of looting or other inhumane behaviour targeting victims during the disaster would not be tolerated.
Arrests amid devastating Nepal floods
The arrests came as Nepal faced one of its worst flood disasters in years.
Flash floods and landslides struck areas close to the Nepal-Tibet border, sweeping away roads, buildings and entire settlements. Rescue workers have been searching through mud and debris for missing people as the death toll climbed sharply.
At least 392 people were reported dead, while more than 1,400 remained missing, according to the information cited in the report.
The disaster has also affected the Tibet region of China. At Gyirong Port, a massive mudslide reportedly engulfed a multi-storey port building and a bus parking area.
China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported that mud in surrounding areas was more than 1.5 metres deep in places. Roads leading to the border crossing were damaged, while authorities warned that continuing rainfall could trigger further landslides or collapses.
As rescue teams continue their search for survivors and missing victims, the arrests in Chitwan have added another grim dimension to the disaster, with authorities warning against exploitation of those affected by the floods.
