The Indian Embassy in China on Monday asked the families of Indians who have been missing since the August 26 flash flood in the Tibet-Nepal border region to provide DNA samples to assist with their identification. The request came after Chinese authorities confirmed that they could now receive DNA samples from families of Indian nationals reported missing in the disaster, according to a press release issued by the Embassy.
The embassy said families willing to provide DNA information should submit the required data in the internationally recognised CODIS format. The information will be shared with the relevant Chinese authorities for comparison. "The Embassy will be notified, and will in turn inform the family, should a match be confirmed," it said.
The Indian mission said blood samples could be collected from the parents of the missing person, or from their spouse and children. Where possible, it advised collecting samples from multiple children. "If the missing person has no living parents or children, kindly collect blood samples from siblings (collecting samples from all siblings is preferred)," it said. The embassy added that samples could also be taken, if required, from other maternal relatives, including cousins on the mother's side, and paternal relatives, including cousins on the father's side, along with details specifying their relationship to the missing person.
The embassy said DNA STR data is required for the samples, while Y-STR data must additionally be provided for male individuals. The data should be stored in the internationally recognised CODIS format.
The samples must be clearly labelled with the nationality, name and passport number of the missing person, along with the name and passport number of the family member and the sample ID number.
Families requiring further assistance have been asked to contact the Embassy of India at +86 18514284905 or email cons1.beijing@mea.gov.in.
The disaster was caused by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, triggering a huge flow of water and debris downstream through the Bhotekoshi River and causing widespread destruction in settlements across northern and central Nepal.
On Sunday, Chinese officials revised the death toll to 43, while 519 people remained missing. Among those unaccounted for are 261 foreigners, including 49 Indians. Most of the foreign nationals who died or remain missing were on both sides of the immigration building when it was swept away by the flood.
