RUPANDEHI: Nepal Police have intensified DNA collection and testing efforts to identify the bodies of Nepali and foreign nationals who lost their lives in the Bhotekoshi flood.
To ensure accurate identification and minimize the possibility of errors, police have accelerated the collection and analysis of samples using modern forensic DNA profiling techniques.
The Central Forensic Science Laboratory of Nepal Police in Samakhushi is conducting DNA tests on samples collected from flood-affected areas as well as from relatives of the deceased. Police said scientific procedures and available technologies are being followed throughout the process, from sample collection and secure storage to laboratory testing.
Nepal Police spokesperson Deputy Inspector General Abhinarayan Kafle said the police have prioritized search, rescue and identification of victims following the disaster.
According to laboratory chief Senior Superintendent of Police Yog Bahadur Pal, the process of receiving samples from the deceased in flood-affected areas and their relatives is continuing. He said the collected samples are being securely preserved, while laboratory teams are working around the clock to complete DNA testing in accordance with established forensic standards.
Police said the laboratory has so far received 1,240 samples for DNA and other forensic examinations. These include 808 blood samples collected from relatives of the deceased and other sources, 348 samples obtained from the teeth and bones of the deceased, and 84 samples related to fingerprints.
Blood samples for DNA profiling have so far been collected from 26 districts. According to the latest data, a total of 2,678 DNA samples have been collected for the identification of victims, including 1,286 samples from the deceased and 1,412 from their relatives.
Of the samples collected from the deceased, 354 were obtained in Chitwan, 70 in Dhading, 207 in Nuwakot, 134 in Rasuwa, 199 in Nawalparasi East, 38 in Tanahun, 71 in Gorkha and 213 in Nawalparasi West, according to police.
Similarly, 990 samples from relatives of the deceased have so far been collected at the Nepal Police Hospital. Authorities said efforts are being stepped up to collect additional samples from relatives in other districts.
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