Kolkata: Nepal Police has called for DNA profiles from children, siblings or parents of those missing in the Nepal flash flood that has prompted families of missing tourists from Bengal to begin arranging submission of genetic samples for comparison. Relatives of four families have already submitted their samples to Nepal authorities on Wednesday.On Thursday, relatives of other tourists in Bengal said they will now get autosomal STR DNA profiling done at an authorised forensic laboratory in India and send the digital reports to Nepal Police.The move comes as Nepal moves on from search and rescue to relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction using DNA testing to identify bodies, body parts and human remains recovered from the flood-hit Rasuwa area.Nepal Police issued a notice on Thursday asking blood relatives of the deceased to provide DNA samples to help identify bodies and body parts found along the riverbanks and surrounding areas.According to the notice, first-degree relatives of missing citizens, whether based in Nepal or abroad, will need to complete the DNA testing procedure.“For relatives abroad a first-degree relative is requested to undergo DNA profiling (Autosomal STR DNA profiling) at an authorized laboratory in their own country of residence and send a soft copy of the DNA profile to Nepal Police’s official email address: dnacodis@nepalpolice.gov.np for comparison purposes,” the notice read.Along with the lab report, the relatives have also been asked to send the full name and nationality of the missing person, passport or official ID details, the date and probable location of disappearance and the relationship between the person providing the DNA and the missing person.Nepal Police has designated two contact officers for coordination on DNA testing: Inspector Shambhu Bahadur KC (+977 9841616095) and sub inspector Bishnu Ghimire (+977 9857091013) for the purpose, the notice mentioned.Families have been told that since the flood swept away a large number of people and many bodies have been found in a badly damaged condition, this scientific identification process has been made mandatory to properly return the remains to families.“My sister Rina was supposed to return on Sept 7. Before leaving, she had told us she would bring back holy water from Mansarovar. But after eight days, I understand that it is no longer possible for her to return alive. Now we have to undergo DNA testing and complete the remaining formalities and just hope this exercise helps us get back her body atleast,” said Gunja Mukherjee, elder sister of Netaji Nagar resident Rina Bandyopadhyay.Patuli resident Amarnath Pal’s daughter, Rupama said she too has given up hope and is now preparing to submit the DNA samples at the earliest and send it to Nepal.Sunanda Howladar, daughter of missing tourist Ranajit Kumar Howlader from Behala Parnasree said she has already spoken to doctors and lawyers about the process of DNA sample testing.“My father was a devotee of Mahadev. If there is a miracle, then it would have to be through Mahadev’s special grace. But I am a practical person and so I have started the DNA sample testing formalities. All the fixed deposits, investments, insurance policies and bank-related matters are in my father’s name. So we will have to complete the legal processes for those as well,” said Sunanda, who works in Mumbai and had come to Kolkata after his father and 31 others from the Chalo Jaai travel club went missing.She added: “My father had travelled with ‘Chalo Jai’ several times before. So he went this time as well, trusting his previous experience with the organisation. There is nothing the organisation could have done either. The state government is trying its best. We are angry with no one. Everything was brought to an end by a natural disaster.”
