Kathmandu, Nepal, September 9 — Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) on Wednesday issued a public notice for families living abroad whose relatives remain missing following the devastating Bhotekoshi flash floods last month. The notice outlines procedures for submitting DNA samples to help identify missing persons.
Families outside Nepal have been asked to provide DNA samples from the closest available blood relative of the missing person. The preferred order is the person’s mother, father, son or daughter, followed by a biological brother or sister who shares both parents. If none of these relatives is available, another blood relative from the same family may provide a sample.
The authority clarified that spouses, adopted relatives, step-relatives and in-laws cannot be used for DNA comparison because they do not share DNA with the missing person.
Families have been advised to provide samples through a government forensic science laboratory or an authorized private laboratory in their respective countries. Depending on the donor’s relationship to the missing person, laboratories should prepare appropriate autosomal STR, Y-STR or X-STR DNA profiles.
For male parents or children of a missing person, the authority has requested an autosomal STR profile covering at least 20 CODIS core STR loci, along with a Y-STR profile. Female parents or children are required to provide an autosomal STR profile covering at least 20 CODIS core STR loci and an X-STR profile.
For relatives from the paternal lineage, such as paternal uncles or cousins, a Y-STR profile is required. Female relatives from the maternal lineage, such as mothers or sisters, are required to provide an X-STR profile.
The DNA report must include an electropherogram with a marker table in PDF, XML and CMF formats. It must also be issued on the laboratory’s official letterhead and include details of the relationship between the DNA donor and the missing person, duly signed by the laboratory.
Families must also submit a copy of the donor’s photo identification document, such as a passport or national identity card, along with a signed consent letter authorizing the use of the DNA profile solely to identify the missing relative and specifying the donor’s relationship with the missing person.
Scanned copies of the required documents and DNA report can be sent to the Nepal Police, the NDRRMA said. The authority said DNA information would be kept strictly confidential and used only to identify missing relatives and would not be used or stored for any other purpose.
The notice comes as Nepal continues search, rescue and recovery operations following the devastating floods. According to the latest NDRRMA figures, issued as of 11 a.m. local time Wednesday, 1,367 people have died in the disaster.
Bodies have been recovered from Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan, Nawalparasi East and Nawalparasi West. About 5,132 people remain missing, including 2,860 from Rasuwa and 1,787 from Nuwakot.
Those missing include members of the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, government employees, employees of banks and financial institutions, as well as foreign tourists.
Authorities said 102 bodies have been handed over to families. DNA samples can also be submitted at the concerned District Police Office along with two photographs and proof of kinship.
So far, 13,646 people have been rescued, while 329 injured people are receiving treatment at 10 hospitals. Of those, 252 have been discharged. (ANI)
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