Police have recovered a worm-eaten body of an unidentified girl from Hanumante Bridge connecting Madhyapur Thimi and Bhaktapur Municipality on Saturday.

According to Superintendent of Police Himalaya Kumar Shrestha, the deceased’s body hinted that she died a few days earlier and her body was swept by the river. The girl’s face is in unrecognisable state as it has been preyed by dogs and corpse worms, Shrestha added.

At present authorities cannot ascertain whether the girl was murdered or died of other causes, officials said.

Police have initiated an investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, the deceased’s body has been taken to Tribhuvan University teaching Hospital for an autopsy.