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Those eligible include the father, mother, son, daughter or sibling of a person who remains missing following the August 26 flash floods.
A young boy climbs on a ledge to paste photographs of missing persons in the aftermath of flash floods, at the Tribhuvan University Teaching hospital in Kathmandu. (AFP photo)
The Centre has offered DNA profiling facilities in India for first-degree relatives of people still missing after the devastating floods in Nepal, in a bid to help identify unidentified mortal remains recovered from the disaster.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that first-degree biological relatives living in India can have their samples collected and DNA profiles prepared at designated forensic laboratories.
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— IndiaInNepal (@IndiaInNepal) September 3, 2026
Who Can Give DNA Samples?
Those eligible include the father, mother, son, daughter or sibling of a person who remains missing following the August 26 flash floods.
The facility will be available through Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs), State Forensic Science Laboratories (SFSLs), laboratories of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), and NABL-accredited laboratories with DNA profiling capabilities.
The Centre’s move is aimed at supporting Nepal’s ongoing efforts to identify unidentified mortal remains recovered from the flood-hit areas.
How Will DNA Matching Work?
The MEA said the Nepal Police has advised the use of Autosomal STR DNA profiling for identification, subject to technical requirements communicated by the Nepali authorities.
Once a relative’s DNA profile has been prepared, it can be sent along with the preliminary information required by Nepal Police to [dnacodis@nepalpolice.gov.np](mailto:dnacodis@nepalpolice.gov.np).
The profile will then be compared with DNA obtained from unidentified mortal remains to help establish the identity of those who died in the disaster.
The Embassy of India in Kathmandu will assist with coordination, with families also able to send a copy of the profile to [eoikathmandufloodsupport@gmail.com](mailto:eoikathmandufloodsupport@gmail.com).
The MEA has shared a list of government forensic laboratories and contact points with DNA profiling facilities.
Thousands Still Missing
The initiative comes as rescue and identification efforts continue following the deadly flash floods that struck Nepal on August 26.
According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, at least 1,259 people have died while 4,216 remain missing. More than 12,000 people have been rescued as teams continue searching affected areas.
Chinese state media separately reported 21 deaths and 541 people missing in Tibet, taking the reported toll linked to the August 26 disaster to 1,280 deaths and 5,624 missing.
The floods were triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border and caused widespread destruction across northern and central Nepal.
Quick Answers
Ask News18India and Nepal will coordinate DNA matching by having first-degree biological relatives in India undergo Autosomal STR DNA profiling at designated Indian forensic laboratories, following technical requirements set by Nepali authorities. Once prepared, the DNA profile and required preliminary information can be emailed directly to the Nepal Police. For coordination and facilitation, a copy of the DNA profile can also be sent to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, …Read More
September 04, 2026, 02:30 IST
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