Bowring Hospital designated nodal center for DNA profiling of Karnataka victims missing in Nepal

Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, Bengaluru | Photo Credit: Photo File

The Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has designated the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Bengaluru as a nodal center for the collection of DNA samples from the first-degree relatives of victims from Karnataka reported missing in Nepal.

The decision was taken to facilitate the identification and repatriation of remains of foreign nationals in Nepal based on a September 1 press release issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

According to the KSDMA order, the hospital will coordinate verification of first-degree relationships between relatives and missing victims and collect DNA samples for profiling and further processing.

Dr. Nagesh Kuppast, Professor and Head of Forensic Medicine at the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, has been appointed as the nodal officer. He will be responsible for verifying the relationship of the persons providing the samples to the victims and supervises the collection of the samples. Dr. Vadiraj B. Pokkan, Resident Physician, has also been designated as Coordinating Physician.

The KSDMA has advised relatives to carry a recent passport-sized photograph, government-issued identity proof such as Aadhaar and other relevant documents to prove their identity and relationship with the missing person.

The collected samples will be forwarded to the Forensic Science Laboratory for DNA profiling and comparison with DNA profiles from unidentified mortal remains in Nepal as per the prescribed procedure.

Published – 04 Sep 2026 23:15 IST