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Uttarakhand tragedy: DNA testing of bodies runs into rough weather
Gaurav Talwar/TNS

Dehradun, October 13
A few months before Phailin struck India’s East Coast pulverising everything that came its way, the trail of another natural disaster in Uttarakhand would show you how such calamities can turn a tragedy into a government farce.

The Uttarakhand Government had announced DNA sampling of the over 500 dead victims (out of over 5,000) and match each with the claimant relatives so that the victims are identified and the government can decide the compensation. Two months after the samples were taken, a row has erupted between the Center for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad, and the state Government over payment issues. So, the relatives will have to wait longer before they hear a word from the government.

The disaster cell in the police headquarters has been receiving calls daily from across the country from the victims’ relatives about the status of their DNA samples.

The Tribune has learnt that the Hyderabad-based lab has stopped work pending payment.

Inspector General (Law and Order) RS Meena said police officers will soon meet CDFD officials to resolve the issue.

“The lab’s management has raised payment concerns as they say they will have to do DNA analysis and profiling of all persons who lost their lives in the tragedy. Some of their doubts cleared after we told them only 550-600 samples need to be analyzed,” said Meena.

Sources said in all 559 DNA samples have been sent to the lab. As many as 95 relatives of missing persons too have given their DNA samples to the state authorities for a DNA match.

A police officer said, “The CDFD estimates about Rs 8,000 on each DNA analysis and profiling. It asked the government as to how the payment would be made.”

“People from many states come to me in Dehradun daily to know the status of their DNA analysis,” said IG Meena. He said he had no idea when the sampling exercise would be over. “The process is time-consuming,” he said.

Payment Row

• The Uttarakhand Government had announced DNA sampling of the over 500 victims out of over 5,000 and match each with the claimant relatives so that the victims are identified for compensation purposes
• Two months after the samples were taken, a row has erupted between a Hyderabad lab and the state government over payment issues. So, the relatives will have to wait longer before they hear a word from the government
• The Tribune has learnt that the Hyderabad lab has stopped work pending payment