India offers DNA profiling to identify missing in Nepal flood disaster

India is offering DNA profiling services to identify missing persons in the sudden flood disaster that struck Nepal in August. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, first-degree relatives (mother, father, child, sibling) affected by the disaster will be able to provide DNA samples at designated forensic laboratories in India. The obtained profiles will be shared with the Nepal Police and matched with unidentified remains.

The process will be carried out through the Central and State Forensic Science Laboratories and the National Forensic Sciences University laboratories in India. The Nepal Police recommends the use of the autosomal STR DNA profiling method. The Indian Embassy will coordinate between families, Indian and Nepalese authorities. This scientific method is of critical importance in cases where traditional methods such as visual identification or fingerprints are insufficient.

According to data from Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, at least 1.259 people lost their lives, 4.216 people are still missing, and more than 12,000 people were rescued in the flood disaster. The disaster was triggered by an ice-rock collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border. Chinese media reported 21 deaths and 541 missing in Tibet. A total of 1.280 deaths and 5.624 missing were reported regionally. Search and identification efforts continue.