Introduction:

A disaster is an unexpected event that disrupts normal life in a community and causes loss of
lives, property, and infrastructure. Disasters can be natural, like earthquakes and floods, or
man-made, like terrorist attacks and wars. A mass disaster happens when the number of
deaths exceeds the ability of local authorities to handle medical and forensic investigations.
Identifying disaster victims is crucial for several reasons. It helps determine the cause of the
disaster, count the victims, and identify them. This information is essential for understanding
the full extent of the damage and planning for future prevention.
As technology advances, so do the methods for identifying victims. Modern techniques
include anthropology (studying human remains), dental records, and radioactive dating. Tools
like CT scans, forensic radar, and other innovative technologies are also being used to locate
and identify victims effectively.
What is a Mass Disaster?
A mass disaster is a catastrophic event, like a plane crash, earthquake, or flood, that results in
so many victims that local authorities struggle to manage the situation. For example, the
Linate aircraft accident in 2001 caused numerous casualties, overwhelming the resources of
local officials.
Mass disasters are categorized into two types: Open and Closed systems.
In a closed system, the identities of victims are largely known, like passengers on a flight,
making the process easier to manage.
In an open system, information about victims is incomplete, like in a large public event,
requiring authorities to wait for missing persons reports and collect more data.
Why is Identifying Disaster Victims Important?
Understanding Causes in Man-Made Disasters
Identifying victims helps investigators learn how and why the disaster happened, especially
in cases like bombings or attacks.
Confirming Identity
Matching post-death records with medical or personal information helps confirm the true
identity of victims. This can also provide clues about the cause of the disaster in certain cases.
Reconstructing the Event
By analyzing victims' injuries—whether they occurred before, during, or after death—
authorities can understand the impact and intensity of events like explosions or earthquakes
and recreate what happened.
Tracking Casualties
Identification helps determine how many people were affected and lists those still missing.
Assessing Losses
Identifying victims helps measure the extent of damage, including loss to property and other
assets.
This process is essential for understanding what happened, providing closure to families, and
planning for future disaster prevention.
Key Steps to Investigate a Disaster Scene
Restrict Access
The first step is to block unauthorized people from entering the area. This prevents tampering
with evidence and protects them from hazards like unburnt chemicals in post-blast cases.
Record Entry and Exit Times
Keep track of when authorized personnel enter and leave the scene to maintain an organized
investigation.
Preserve Bodies and Evidence
Any bodies or remains found must be carefully preserved as soon as possible to ensure they
can be properly analyzed later.
Specialized Teams
While the investigation process is generally similar, the number and type of specialists
needed depend on the nature and scale of the disaster.
These precautions are essential for gathering accurate evidence and ensuring the safety of
everyone involved.
Phases of Disaster Victim Identification:
Stage 1 - Visit to the Scene
Arriving at the Scene
After a disaster, the site must be handled carefully. Investigators carefully transport evidence
and human remains while ensuring the area is searched systematically, such as using a grid
method in aircraft disasters.
Document the Scene
Photos of the site should be taken immediately to capture its original state. This helps
preserve details for analysis before any changes occur.
Assist Injured Victims
Any injured survivors should be quickly identified and sent to hospitals for treatment.
Sorting and Labeling Evidence
Investigators confirm whether remains are human and assign numbers to all evidence and
remains to organize the investigation process.
Careful Handling and Transport
The scene coordinator ensures evidence, remains, and any property damage are carefully
preserved, labeled, and transported. Proper records are kept for everything to support the
investigation.
By following these steps, investigators can maintain accuracy and respect throughout the
process.
Stage 2: Post-Mortem Stage
Examining the Victims
Bodies recovered from the disaster site are taken to the mortuary for detailed examination.
Every detail observed during the autopsy and visual checks is carefully recorded.
Collecting Physical Evidence
Physical evidence like medical and dental records, as well as lab findings (traces of alcohol,
drugs, or chemicals like carbon monoxide), are key in identifying victims.
Fingerprints and Injuries
Fingerprints are matched with pre-existing records to confirm identities. Injuries are
examined to understand their cause and impact.
Role of Radiology
X-rays and other imaging help assess injuries, estimate the victim’s age, and provide crucial
evidence about their condition before death.
Dental Records and Odontology
In cases where fingerprints or facial features are unusable (e.g., severe burns), dental records
are highly reliable for identification. Unique features like dental anomalies or past dental
work can confirm identity because teeth are very durable.
This stage ensures accurate victim identification and helps investigators gather critical
evidence.
Stage 3: Ante-Mortem Data Collection
Two Lists Are Created
Bodies List: Details of the deceased (collected on pink forms).
Missing Persons List: Information about individuals reported missing (collected on yellow
forms).
Informing Families
Once a victim’s identity is confirmed, their family is informed promptly. A missing persons
unit plays a key role in coordinating between families and authorities.
Tasks of the Ante-Mortem Unit
Gather information about the victim’s life and identity (e.g., daily habits, medical records,
photos).
Work closely with the post-mortem team to match records and ensure accurate identification.
Key Responsibilities
Collect ante-mortem data from family interviews, medical files, and personal documents
(e.g., IDs, insurance).
Maintain a well-organized list of missing and identified individuals with proper serial
numbers.
Reconciliation Process
Once enough data is collected, it is sent to the reconciliation team to compare ante-mortem
(before death) and post-mortem (after death) records for a final match.
Accuracy Is Crucial
The number of missing persons should be calculated carefully to avoid discrepancies between
reported and actual missing individuals.
This stage ensures that all collected information is used to accurately identify victims and
provide closure to their families.
Stage 4: Reconciliation Procedure
The reconciliation process brings together all records to confirm the identity of disaster
victims. This stage ensures proper identification before releasing the body to families.
Steps in the Reconciliation Process:
Gathering Records:
Collect information from the mortuary (medical, dental, photos, X-rays, fingerprints).
Compile ante-mortem data from the missing persons unit.
Creating Master Records:
Combine all information into a single, detailed diagram or record for comparison.
Conducting Sessions:
Hold discussions to confirm or reject the identity of a victim.
Final Confirmation:
If identity is confirmed, create a final identification record.
Issue a death certificate and release the body to the family.
Role of the Identification Center:
Houses records from both ante-mortem and post-mortem units, speeding up the investigation.
Organizes files based on categories like age, gender, or race to simplify searching and
matching.
Uses both ante-mortem and post-mortem photos for accurate identification.
This stage ensures all evidence is reviewed thoroughly for accurate identification and
provides closure to families by handling the process with precision and care.
Methods of Identifying Disaster Victims
Victim identification is categorized into two main types: primary and secondary methods.
Both work together to ensure accurate results.
1. Primary Identification
This method relies on scientific evidence to identify victims.
Common techniques include:
DNA fingerprinting: Matching DNA samples from the victim with family or stored records.
Dental records: Comparing the victim’s teeth to pre-existing dental records.
Fingerprint analysis: Matching fingerprints to known records.
Factors like the time since the disaster, the extent of damage, and condition of the body can
affect this process.
2. Secondary Identification
This uses personal belongings or physical characteristics for identification. Examples include:
Tattoos, scars, or unique birthmarks.
Clothing, jewelry, or accessories found with the victim.
Medical records, such as surgeries or implants.
These methods support primary identification but cannot confirm identity on their own.
Key Considerations
Both primary and secondary data must be carefully examined for reliable results.
High-quality ante-mortem (before death) and post-mortem (after death) records are essential
for accurate identification.
This combined approach ensures thorough and precise identification, helping bring closure to
families.
The Disasters Where the Disaster Victim Identification Team Played a Major Role in
Reducing the Impact and Aftermath
Case Study 1: 2004 Tsunami
Date of Incident: 26th December 2004
Time of Incident: 07:58 AM
Estimated Casualties: 227,898
The 2004 tsunami, known as the "Boxing Day Tsunami," was one of the deadliest natural
disasters in history. It occurred after a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1-9.3 off the
west coast of northern Sumatra. The earthquake triggered giant waves that reached up to 30
meters in height, affecting areas like Aceh, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu (India), and Khao Lak.
The identification of victims began within 24 hours after the disaster. The Disaster Victim
Identification (DVI) team played a crucial role in identifying the victims. Here’s how it was
done:
35% of victims were identified using fingerprints.
20% were identified through DNA analysis.
Dental records were used for the majority of the identifications.
The process was carried out by the authorities, and the remains were initially stored at the
Mail Khao Cemetery. After identification, the bodies were moved to the Thai Tsunami
Repatriation Centre for final processing before being released to their families.
This effort helped reduce the impact of the disaster by quickly identifying victims, allowing
families to receive closure, and managing the aftermath effectively.
Case Study 2: Uttarakhand Disaster (2013)
Date of Incident: 17th June 2013 - 26th June 2013
Estimated Casualties: 5748 dead, 4120 missing
Uttarakhand, known as "Dev Bhoomi," is a popular destination for pilgrims and tourists due
to its mountainous terrain. From June 17 to June 26, 2013, heavy rainfall and a cloudburst on
June 17 caused severe flooding. The water levels in the Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers
rose, putting thousands of pilgrims at risk.
The disaster was so severe that it led to the missing status of 4120 people, including 92
foreigners. All of these individuals were presumed dead. The rescue operation started within
24 hours, supported by the army, navy, ITBP, and the National Disaster Management
Authority (NDMA).
The Indian Air Force (IAF) rescued over 18,000 people by June 30. During the operation,
DNA samples were collected, and the bodies found were numbered for identification. This
system helped in managing the large number of casualties and made the identification process
more organized.
Conclusion:
"In conclusion, using proper protocols and modern techniques helps speed up the process of
identifying disaster victims. Forensic methods like dental exams, DNA fingerprinting, and
post-blast residue analysis improve investigation efficiency. Forensic anthropology can
provide insights into a victim’s age, sex, and background, which can assist in identification.
By combining disaster victim identification teams with forensic experts, investigations can be
faster, more effective, and ensure justice for both the victims and survivors. This
collaboration is key to preventing further harm in disaster-prone areas."