Nepal flood victim identification faces major forensic challenges

Forensic experts are facing immense challenges in identifying victims following the devastating Rasuwa floods in Nepal. The scale of the disaster, involving bodies potentially buried under deep mud or swept far from their original locations, presents a task comparable to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

To assist local efforts, an Indian forensic team from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Delhi has been deployed to Kathmandu. The team is focusing on DNA profiling by matching post-mortem samples, such as molar teeth and bone fragments, with reference samples provided by relatives. While the technical infrastructure in Nepal is considered comparable to that in India, operational capacity remains a bottleneck, as current machinery processes fewer samples per run than higher-capacity equipment.

Experts warn that the process of finding answers for grieving families may take months, and due to the mountainous terrain and resource constraints, some missing persons may never be recovered.