There is now a ray of hope for the families of the 31 pilgrims missing in the Chishoti disaster. The Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory has completed the DNA testing report of all the missing pilgrims and sent it to the concerned investigating officer and the government.
During last year’s devastating cloudburst disaster, only mutilated bodies or body parts of many pilgrims were recovered, preventing their identification. With the DNA report, identification of these pilgrims will now be possible, allowing the affected families to perform the last rites of their loved ones.
This also clears the way for financial assistance announced by the government, which had been held up due to lack of identification.
It is worth noting that on August 14, a cloudburst on the Chandi Mata Temple route in the Chishoti area of Kishtwar district claimed the lives of 68 pilgrims, while 31 went missing. DNA samples were taken on September 8th to confirm their identities, but the investigation process was stalled for several months due to the unavailability of the necessary kits at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Jammu.
Following media concerns about the case, DNA kits were recently made available to the laboratory, after which Director Om Prakash Bhagat assured that the investigation would be completed soon. Late Thursday night, he confirmed that DNA reports for all 31 missing pilgrims had been prepared and submitted.
