India's Ministry of External Affairs announced that central and state forensic laboratories will provide DNA profiling services for first-degree relatives in India to help identify victims of the recent Nepal flash floods. This initiative supports Nepal's ongoing identification process, with specific guidelines for sample collection and submission of DNA profiles to Nepali authorities.
The Indian Embassy in Nepal has released a detailed procedure for identifying and repatriating the mortal remains of foreign nationals, including Indians, who perished in the recent devastating flash floods. The process involves a nine-step protocol by Nepali authorities, DNA matching for unidentified remains, and assistance from the Indian Embassy for coordination and repatriation.
Gujarat's Director General of Police Gyanendra Singh Malik describes the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad a year ago, which killed 260 people, as the 'most painful' chapter of his career, highlighting the unprecedented speed of the emergency response and DNA identification process.
Nearly a month after devastating flash floods in Nepal, search operations are ongoing for approximately 6,000 people who remain unaccounted for. The floods, originating near the Nepal-Tibet border, caused widespread destruction, killing over 1,400 in Nepal and 43 in China, and damaging critical infrastructure. Identification of recovered bodies is a major challenge, often requiring DNA testing due to severe damage.
'The testing will take time and they have to wait for a few days.'
India has dispatched a fresh tranche of 35 tonnes of humanitarian aid to flood-ravaged Nepal, marking the eighth special flight since devastating flash floods struck the Himalayan nation on August 26. The aid includes relief materials, specialised rescue equipment, and expert personnel, with Indian teams actively assisting in tunnel rescue operations and forensic identification of victims. The death toll has climbed to 1,365, and thousands remain missing as India reaffirms its commitment to supporting Nepal's recovery efforts.
A Delhi court has criticised Gurugram Police for a "botched" investigation into the murder of real estate professional Yuvraj Singh Manchanda, particularly for cremating his body without identification. The court noted discrepancies between the post-mortem report and Delhi Police's findings regarding the cause of death, highlighting significant delays in uploading details to the ZIPNET database.
Following devastating floods in Nepal, families are facing immense challenges in identifying their missing relatives. Hospitals are overwhelmed with unidentified bodies, leading to disputed claims and a reliance on DNA testing, which can take months. Personal belongings and distinctive features are sometimes used, but forensic evidence is often the only conclusive method.
The death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal has reached 1,344, with rescue teams continuing to search for approximately 5,000 missing individuals, including foreign nationals, as identification of victims proves challenging due to the condition of recovered bodies.
Following devastating floods in Nepal, Kathmandu has initiated mass burials for unidentified victims as morgues have exceeded capacity. Security forces are burying bodies with markers and collecting DNA samples for future identification. The government has amended the Unidentified and Unclaimed Bodies Management Guidelines, 2021, to facilitate the management of disaster victims, including provisions for autopsies, DNA collection, and temporary burial with identification markers.
Eleven days after devastating floods triggered by an ice-rock avalanche, Nepal continues to grapple with a rising death toll of 1,344 and nearly 5,000 missing. Authorities face significant challenges in identifying the deceased, with many bodies severely damaged. DNA samples are being collected from relatives to aid identification, while the government mobilises relief and rehabilitation efforts. A fresh flood incident in Gorkha district also caused damage.
A months-long investigation into skeletal remains found in Uttar Pradesh's Hathnikund Barrage has concluded with DNA matching confirming the victim as a 22-year-old woman from Uttarakhand, allegedly murdered by a man who had been harassing her.
Nepal is grappling with the devastating aftermath of flash floods, with the death toll reaching 1,356 and nearly 5,000 people, including foreign nationals, still missing. Identification of bodies is a major challenge, with only a fraction identified so far. President Ramchandra Paudel has appealed for climate justice and national unity for relief efforts. International teams, including experts from India and China, are assisting in search and rescue, particularly at hydropower projects where workers are trapped. The country is also working to restore infrastructure and reassure tourists to protect its vital autumn tourism season.
A 17-year-old girl, allegedly raped by three men at Delhi's Aastha Kunj Park, bravely assisted investigators by leading them to the crime spots. Her detailed account and identification of the locations enabled forensic teams to collect crucial biological evidence, including a condom. Police subsequently identified and arrested the three accused, Asif, Hemant, and Mahesh, after scanning CCTV footage and using technical surveillance.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) will conduct SRY Gene tests at the Federation Cup in Ranchi to ensure only biological females compete in the women's category. The AFI will also start DNA testing of Indian athletes to collect data for research, injury prevention, and training methods.
The death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal has tragically risen to 903, with 4,247 people still reported missing, including security personnel and foreigners. India has dispatched an 18-member team of forensic experts to assist with DNA analysis and identification of victims.
'If you have 270 bodies and each body is fragmented into 10 parts, you cannot do (so many) DNA tests and even if you do it will be a long procedure.'
The death toll from flash floods in central Nepal has surged to 734, with nearly 2,500 people still missing. India has intensified its rescue and relief efforts, sending additional aid, technical teams, and forensic experts, while also working to locate and rescue over 275 missing Indian nationals.
Devastating flash floods in Nepal, triggered by an ice and rock collapse, have led to over 900 deaths and 4,000 missing. Rescue operations by security personnel are severely hampered by critical shortages of specialised equipment, including thermal cameras, body bags, ropes, and helicopters. International assistance from India and China is aiding the search for missing workers, highlighting Nepal's long-standing disaster management capacity issues and inadequate funding.
A year after the devastating AI-171 Dreamliner crash near Ahmedabad, forensic scientists recount the immense emotional and scientific challenges faced in identifying the 260 victims. The director of Gujarat Directorate of Forensic Sciences, H P Sanghvi, shared the indelible image of a severed hand, symbolising the terror and the team's dedication.
Families of 15 of the 260 victims of last year's Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad have declined to collect the personal belongings of their loved ones, while ex-gratia payments of Rs 1 crore have been disbursed to 91 per cent of the families of the deceased.
'If a body is 100 per cent burnt, turned into ashes, then there is a very less chance of getting a DNA sample.'
Gujarat police have arrested two brothers in connection with the alleged murder of a woman 34 years ago. The breakthrough came after DNA analysis of exhumed skeletal remains matched the victim's siblings.
A man has been taken into custody in Idukki, Kerala, following the discovery of two bodies believed to be those of his mother and brother, who were reported missing. The bodies were exhumed from a pit in the compound of their house after a missing persons complaint was filed.
The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that 217 Indian nationals reportedly joined the Russian armed forces, with 49 fatalities amid the Russia-Ukraine war, and efforts are underway to repatriate those who were misled.
At least 190 victims of last week's Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad have so far been identified through DNA matching and 159 bodies handed over to their families, an official said on Wednesday.
The bodies were charred beyond recognition. The DNA samples of the bodies and the victim's relatives have been collected for identification of the deceased, they said.
A man who lost family members in the 2023 Air India AI-171 crash has made claims about the pilot's position in the mortuary, prompting calls for an independent investigation.
Delhi Police are investigating a blocked roof exit and the use of cooking heaters in guest rooms as key factors in the recent Malviya Nagar hotel fire that killed 21 people. Hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj has been arrested, and a Look Out Circular issued against his wife, while the manager remains absconding.
An official expressed hope that the DNA profiling all the victims will be completed by either Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.
The Centre informed the Supreme Court that ten Indians have died while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Russia-Ukraine war. The court is hearing a plea seeking the repatriation of Indians allegedly forced to fight.
A senior Maharashtra minister has alleged negligence on the part of SBL Energy Ltd following a fatal explosion at its Nagpur detonator-making unit that killed 19 workers. The government has promised compensation and a thorough investigation into safety lapses.
A Delhi court acquitted a man accused of attempted murder after key witnesses turned hostile and failed to identify him as the assailant, leading to a lack of evidence.
A Delhi court acquitted a man accused of attempted murder after key witnesses turned hostile and failed to support the prosecution's case, leading to doubts about the accused's identity and the reliability of evidence.
The multi-agency search operation to trace 33 missing persons in cloudburst-hit Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir has entered its eighth day. The death toll stands at 65, and rescue efforts are ongoing with the help of multiple agencies and heavy machinery.
'If major components of any dead body from which you can retrieve DNA is available, that is enough.'
Authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of the victims as many bodies were charred beyond recognition or badly damaged in the deadly June 12 crash.
As relatives continue to search for their loved ones among the bodies of the victims of the Odisha train tragedy, the Bhubaneswar municipal corporation has said that it will send 30 DNA samples collected from visitors to All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi.
Over a week after 270 people were killed in the Ahmedabad plane crash, 220 victims have been identified through DNA tests, and the mortal remains of 202 of them were handed over to their families, a Gujarat minister said on Friday.
At least 265 bodies were sent to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital for post-mortem after the crash on Thursday. Of these, only six victims were identified as their faces were intact, inspector Chirag Gosai said.
