Six of the dead in Pokhara plane crash to be identified through DNA tests

Six people who were killed in the Pokhara plane crash on January 15 have yet to be identified. Their identity would be established through their DNA test, said the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.

The TU Teaching Hospital has confirmed that identity of six of the 48 dead people brought to the hospital for a postmortem have yet to be established.

Identity of 42 dead people has been ascertained through forensic reports and finger prints, said the Hospital’s forensic expert Dr Tulasi Kandel.

“There were difficulties in ascertaining identity of six dead through forensic reports and finger prints as their bodies were excessively burnt. So, we have started the process to identify them through their DNA test,” he said.

DNA tests would be carried out in the Nepal Police Laboratory. The process of collecting DNA samples of the dead and their relatives is underway, he said, adding that it takes at least 22 days to ascertain the identity of a dead.

On January 15, an aircraft of the Yeti Airlines flying to Pokhara from Kathmandu crashed into the Seti gorge in Pokhara, killing all 72 people onboard the plane including four crew members.

Bodies of 22 people killed in the crash were taken to Pokhara for an examination.