16 bodies identified, DNA samples of others taken

Panipat, Feb 20 (UNI) As many as 16 of the 66 bodies of the victims of the Samjhauta Express blasts lying at the Civil hospital here have been identified so far while DNA samples have been taken of the remaining bodies.

Twelve of the identified bodies are of Pakistanis while others are of Indians. Eleven of the identified bodies have been handed over to their relatives, officials said here today.

DNA samples of the unidentified bodies had been taken for their identification and the bodies were now lying embalmed at the hospital, Panipat Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Ranjan said.

The DNA samples of the victims would be matched with their relatives for their identification, he added.

The relatives of the victims were making frantic efforts to identify the remaining bodies, several of which were charred beyond recognition. They were trying to identify them through some piece of jewellery or clothes.

While most of the relatives of Pakistani victims claimed that they would like to take them to Pakistan for the burial but there was confusion among them over the arrangements in this regard.

Some of them said they were expecting a Paksitani delegation to reach here by the evening but there was no official word on it.

Meanwhile, the Railway authorities have decided to give an assistance of Rs 15,000 each to the family of each victim.

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