India's First National Guidelines for Disaster Victim Identification Released by NDMA
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has introduced the country's inaugural Standard Operating Procedure for identifying victims during mass fatality incidents. This landmark document addresses significant deficiencies in current disaster response protocols while establishing systematic procedures for recognition, registration, and dignified transfer of human remains to grieving families.
Key Recommendations and Forensic Innovations
Among the most notable provisions is the proposal for a National Dental Data Registry, which would utilize dental records and jaw structures as primary identification tools. The guidelines also incorporate forensic archaeology methodologies to facilitate identification of remains months or even years following catastrophic events.
NDMA Joint Adviser Nawal Prakash emphasized the guidelines' comprehensive nature: "It is the first time we have come out with such guidelines for disaster victim identification in our country. We have seen several victims of disasters remaining unidentified or difficult to identify. There are many branches in forensics that can help in this and we wanted to bring them together."
Response to Recent Tragedies and Historical Context
The guidelines' development follows five major disasters that occurred in 2025:
- The Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad (June)
- The chemical factory explosion in Sangareddy, Telangana (June)
- The Gambhira bridge collapse in Vadodara, Gujarat (July)
- Flash floods in Dharali, Uttarakhand (August)
- The Delhi car bomb blast (November)
Released on Republic Day by Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar in Delhi, the document titled 'National Disaster Management Guidelines on Comprehensive Disaster Victim Identification and Management' coincides with the 25th anniversary of Gujarat's devastating 2001 earthquake.
Addressing Systemic Challenges and Implementation Strategy
The comprehensive guidelines detail roles for all stakeholders following disasters, including team composition for identification processes. They highlight critical systemic issues such as:
- Insufficient manpower and specialized training
- Logistical deficiencies in transportation and storage
- Coordination challenges among multiple agencies across local, state, and central government levels
Professor (Dr) G Rajesh Babu, Dean of the School of Medico-Legal Studies at National Forensic Sciences University and a drafting committee member, described the approach as "humanitarian forensics," emphasizing the need for sensitivity toward community customs and emotional support for affected families.
Four-Stage Identification Process
The guidelines establish a systematic four-stage methodology:
- Systematic recovery of human remains from disaster sites
- Collection of post-mortem data through forensic examination
- Gathering ante-mortem information including medical records from families
- Reconciliation of data for final identification and release of remains
Dr. Jayasankar Pillai of Government Dental College, Ahmedabad, another drafting committee member, revealed that initial discussions began in September 2025, with formal planning commencing in November 2025.
Implementation and Training Initiatives
NDMA officials confirmed they have studied Interpol's victim identification guidelines while incorporating additional specialties like forensic odontology and archaeology. Prakash outlined the implementation strategy: "We will start with setting up organizational structures across the country. We will train experts from all relevant forensic fields, and try to create specialized teams, ideally in each state. We have begun this work on a war footing."
The guidelines specifically address challenges including fragmentation of remains, rapid decomposition in humid conditions, body displacement during floods, and charring in fire incidents. Logistical considerations encompass mortuary capacity, cold chain transportation, and storage facilities.
