India's Guidelines for Disaster Victim Identification (DVI)
India has released its first-ever guidelines and standard operating procedures for Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) through the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). These guidelines aim to ensure the recognition, registration, and dignified handover of human remains to families following mass fatality incidents.
Objective and Need
The guidelines were formulated due to difficulties in identifying victims of disasters. They focus on integrating various forensic branches to assist during such incidents.
Four Stages of DVI
The guidelines outline the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders including police, health officials, and emergency responders, emphasizing a unified command to handle the DVI process.
Digital Biometrics
- It is suggested that using digital biometrics from phones found at disaster sites for identifying victims.
Gaps and Challenges
- Challenges include fragmentation of remains, decomposition, displacement during natural disasters, and chemical or biological contamination.
- Climate change is recognized as a "risk multiplier," with logistical and sociological challenges also highlighted.
Need for a National Dental Data Registry
Interpol’s guidelines suggest primary identifiers like fingerprints, dental examination, and DNA profiling. Secondary identifiers like tattoos and scars are less reliable.
- The guidelines recommend creating a "National Dental Data Registry" for comparing ante-mortem and post-mortem data.
Forensic Odontology
Inspired by lessons from the AI 171 plane crash, forensic odontology is highlighted for its importance in victim identification.
- It is advised that keeping a selfie with visible front teeth and preserving dental records for potential disaster identification.
Forensic Archaeology
The guidelines introduce methods like post-mortem fingerprinting, DNA analysis, forensic odontology, virtual autopsy, and forensic archaeology.
- Forensic archaeology is included for its role in mass fatalities involving complex sites, drawing from a project in North East India identifying WWII soldiers.
