Authorities on Wednesday started taking samples for DNA tests from unclaimed bodies which perished in the devastating fire at Puttingal temple of Kollam district in Kerala on 10 April, officials said.
As many as 109 people have been killed, while 21 remain missing, and 350 injured in the blaze that was set off by a display of fireworks at the temple.
There are 13 unidentified bodies – two at the Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram and the others at Kollam. DNA samples were taken from them by the police to conduct DNA tests at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology.
M Radhakrishna Pillai, director of the institute, said they were prepared to go to Kollam to collect the blood samples of those who have lost their relatives or whose relatives are missing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to see that all efforts are made to ensure that due justice is given to the unidentified bodies after visiting the temple site and the victims on Sunday.
Officials told the media that the samples for DNA tests are taken when the autopsies are done, which are then kept in sealed packets. After the tests, the results are matched with the blood samples of the living family members, and the judiciary is informed about the results first.
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