From flood-hit areas to crime scenes, Nepal’s police dogs sniff out vital clues

The Bhotekoshi floods on August 26 left nearly 1,500 people dead and more than 5,000 missing. Families searching for their loved ones put up posters bearing names and photographs at hospitals in Kathmandu and travelled to affected areas, including Rasuwa and Nuwakot, in the hope of finding them.

Police deployed trained dogs alongside search-and-rescue personnel to help locate the missing. Among those sent by the Nepal Police Canine Office was Leo, a Labrador retriever that spent 20 days searching for people in the affected areas and assisting rescue teams.

“Dogs locate bodies by detecting the odour of biological substances released by the human body after death,” said Superintendent of Police Ram Chandra Satyal, chief technical officer at the Canine Office. “Leo performed exceptionally well in the disaster search-and-rescue operation and established himself as an important member of the team.” For his work, Leo will receive this year’s award for outstanding police dog during Kukur Tihar, the day of the Tihar festival when dogs are honoured.