Dehradun: Twelve years after the devastating Kedarnath disaster of June 2013, the tragedy continues to cast a long shadow—not just in memory, but in the unresolved identities of hundreds who perished. Despite extensive efforts, 702 DNA samples collected from the disaster site remain unmatched, their stories untold, their families unknown.
The catastrophic floods, triggered by a cloudburst on the night of June 15–16, 2013, swept through Kedarnath and surrounding areas, claiming thousands of lives. Official records cite 4,400 people dead or missing, including 991 local residents, while over 30,000 people were rescued by police and 90,000 by the armed forces. The scale of destruction was so vast that bodies and skeletal remains continued to surface for years.
Uttarakhand Police and disaster response teams collected 735 DNA samples
In the aftermath, the Uttarakhand Police and disaster response teams collected 735 DNA samples from recovered bodies, body parts, and skeletons. These were sent to forensic laboratories in Bangalore and Hyderabad for identification. Simultaneously, over 6,000 people who had reported missing relatives submitted their own DNA samples in hopes of finding closure.
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Yet only 33 matches were ever confirmed. The remaining 702 samples—each representing a life lost—remain unmatched, their identities still a mystery. “At that time, whatever body was found, its parts like fingers or teeth were preserved and sent for testing,” said Amit Kumar Sinha, Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Uttarakhand.
The police cremated hundreds of unclaimed bodies
The implications are heartbreaking. For some, it suggests that entire families may have perished, leaving no one behind to claim the remains. For others, it reflects the limitations of forensic infrastructure, especially in the face of a disaster of such magnitude. The police cremated hundreds of unclaimed bodies, often using personal belongings like jewelry or clothing to offer symbolic closure. But for many families, the absence of a confirmed identity has meant no final rites, no closure, and a grief that lingers unresolved.
There’s still a chance to identify more victims
The government has not announced any new efforts to revisit the DNA matching process, though experts suggest that advancements in forensic technology could offer renewed hope. “With improved databases and AI-assisted matching, there’s still a chance to identify more victims,” said a senior forensic analyst familiar with the case.
