Gandhinagar19 minutes agoAuthor: Aziz Cutleriwala
The Gujarat government has collected DNA samples from first-degree relatives of 29 of the 30 people from the state who remain missing or uncontactable after the devastating flash floods in Nepal.
The samples are being processed for DNA profiling and will be matched with bodies and human remains recovered from the flood-affected areas, particularly along the Nepal-Tibet border and the Bhote Koshi River corridor.
The exercise comes 15 days after the 26 August flash flood, with conventional identification proving difficult in several cases. The process for the remaining missing person is also underway.
State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Gandhinagar
The Gujarat State Non-Resident Gujaratis’ Foundation (NRGF), under the NRI Division of the General Administration Department, is coordinating the collection and profiling process.
Samples to be matched with remains
Six designated forensic laboratories in Gujarat in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Junagadh and Rajkot are undertaking DNA profiling. Samples of relatives living abroad have also been collected through authorities in countries including New Zealand, the US, Canada and African nations.
The National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to facilitate the exchange of DNA profiles and identification information with Nepal. Profiling reports are being sent directly by designated laboratories to Nepal through official channels notified by its government.
NRGs form major part of missing group
National Forensic Science University (NFSU), Gandhinagar
Of the 30 people identified by Gujarat’s State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) as missing or uncontactable, a substantial number are overseas citizens from Gujarat. Those reported missing include people from Ahmedabad, Anand, Banaskantha, Kheda, Gandhinagar, Surat, Valsad, Rajkot and other districts.
Several had travelled to Nepal for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through different agencies and routes.
SEOC coordinates tracing efforts
Following activation of helplines, the SEOC gathers information from districts and forwards it to Gujarat’s Resident Commissioner in New Delhi, who shares it with the MEA for rescue and repatriation coordination.
The only person out of the entire batch who has been traced is elderly Amreli pilgrim Kamtaprasad Chauhan, alias Gomtidas Bapu, who told his disciple during a video call on 28 August that he was in Janakpur and planned to return to India by train.
People seeking assistance can contact Gujarat’s helplines at 079-23251900, 9978405304 or 1070.
