Identities via Genetics: How Gujarat is Tracing 30 Missing Flood Victims in Nepal

The Gujarat government has collected DNA samples from the relatives of 29 of the 30 people from the state, including Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRGs), who remain untraceable following devastating flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, officials said.

The samples are undergoing genetic profiling to assist Nepalese authorities in identifying bodies and human remains recovered after the catastrophic August 26 deluge along the Bhote Koshi River corridor. The administrative procedure to collect the sample for the final missing individual is currently underway.

State Coordinates Global Sample Drive

The Gujarat State Non-Resident Gujaratis’ Foundation (NRGF), operating under the NRI Division of the General Administration Department, is leading the coordination between affected families and diplomatic authorities.

The initiative follows Union Government directives issued by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, under which designated forensic laboratories are conducting DNA sample collection and profiling for first-degree relatives entirely free of cost.

To expedite the process, Gujarat has activated six designated forensic facilities located in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Junagadh and Rajkot.

The National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Gandhinagar is serving as the nodal body coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs to cross-link Indian DNA profiles with recovery operations in Nepal. A 10-member specialized forensic team from NFSU has also deployed to Nepal to assist local personnel, while Nepal Police has independently initiated forensic profiling of recovered remains.

Outreach to NRI Diaspora

For families located overseas, the NRGF has extended its outreach to international authorities. In cases involving first-degree relatives residing in New Zealand, the United States, Canada and African nations, the foundation has tracked and verified sample collection conducted by local foreign agencies.

Once generated, forensic reports are transmitted directly from the designated Indian laboratories to Nepalese authorities via designated official channels. Nepal Police had earlier urged all foreign-based immediate relatives of missing persons to complete profiling at authorized centers in their country of residence.

Disaster Impact on Pilgrims

The disaster struck a major transit belt for pilgrims, with several of the untraceable individuals having traveled through various agencies for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), alongside district collectors and the NRGF, has submitted a consolidated list of the 30 missing individuals to the Nepal government.

The missing individuals hail from multiple districts across the state, including:

• Ahmedabad
• Anand
• Banaskantha
• Kheda
• Gandhinagar
• Surat
• Valsad
• Rajkot

Because severe water impact and debris have rendered conventional physical identification impossible for many recovered remains, authorities are relying on large-scale cross-matching of familial DNA to bring formal closure to the affected families.