Nepal Academy of Science and Technology Begins DNA Profiling for Flood Victims

Kathmandu. The Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has started DNA profiling (testing) to identify people who lost their lives and went missing in the recent floods. NAST has also started DNA testing with the help of Chinese equipment and experts, at the ministerial level initiative, as many people went missing during the disaster and only two laboratories could not handle the workload.

Dr. Ramchandra Poudel, senior scientist and spokesperson for NAST, stated that the legal authority to conduct DNA testing of bodies lies only with the National Forensic Science Laboratory and the Forensic Lab of Nepal Police. Initially, the Disaster Management Authority had decided to send the collected samples to those two bodies. However, Poudel clarified that NAST has also been included in this process to expedite the work due to the large number of samples requiring testing.