Victims’ identification not over,long wait for parents

According to doctors at the forensic science department of the government-run JJ Hospital,the students — Umang Singh from Mumbai and Partha Pratim Bag from West Bengal — died due to burn injuries received from a chemical fire. They said the viscera,blood and bone marrow of the victims had been preserved and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for further analysis.

The FSL,besides reporting on the composition of chemicals that might have caused the fire,will also submit a report on the blood tests and match the DNA of victims with that of their parents. “The nature of the injuries indicates a chemical explosion and fire. There are no other injuries on the bodies. They have suffered 100 per cent burns. Viscera and other samples have been preserved for further analysis,” said a doctor from the department.

At the JJ Hospital,Umang’s friends accused the police for their lack of co-ordination with the hospital and other authorities. “Umang’s parents were asked to go to the BARC from their Jogeshwari residence in the morning,but on their way they were called back to JJ Hospital to identify the body. The hospital authorities then said the parents’ blood sample for a DNA test was needed to prove that the deceased was Umang Joshi. The blood sample could be taken only at the Kalina laboratory,for which they had to go to Kalina again,” said Vijay Yadav,Umang’s college friend.

The parents of both Umang and Partha had arrived at the hospital to identify the bodies. While Umang’s friends spoke to the media,they surrounded the parents at all times,shielding them from a crowd of mediapersons.