BENGALURU | September 6, 2026 — Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital has been designated as Bengaluru’s nodal centre for collecting DNA samples from relatives of Karnataka residents missing after flash floods in Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region, in a move intended to identify unidentified bodies and support their repatriation.
A separate DNA desk has been established at the hospital to collect samples from first-degree relatives, including parents, spouses, siblings and children of people reported missing. Relatives must carry a recent photograph of the missing person, identity proof and documents establishing their relationship with the person.
“DNA profiling will be used in cases where identification through photographs or other available details is not possible,” a nodal officer told Deccan Herald.
The samples collected at Bowring Hospital will be sent to the State Forensic Science Laboratory in Madiwala. They will be used for profiling and comparison with DNA profiles prepared by authorities in Nepal.
Three people had submitted samples by Saturday evening, according to the nodal officer, with more relatives expected to approach the desk over the following two days. The hospital’s dedicated counter is intended to streamline the collection process for families awaiting information about missing relatives.
According to details compiled by the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority, about 26 Karnataka residents remain missing in Nepal, including 17 from Bengaluru. The residents were reported missing after flash floods struck areas along the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26.
The DNA process is being used where identification through photographs or other available personal details cannot be completed. The comparison of samples from relatives with DNA profiles prepared from unidentified bodies is expected to assist authorities in confirming identities before repatriation.
Relatives seeking clarification or assistance can contact the Greater Bengaluru Authority helpline at 1533. The hospital has asked eligible family members to bring the required identification and relationship documents when submitting samples.
