New technique for diagnosis of drowning cases

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 3

In a major research endeavour, scientists of the Regional Forensic Science Lab, Dharamsala, have developed a new and quick technique for diagnosis of ante-mortem or post-mortem drowning cases facilitating processing of samples and generation of report within 2-3 hours. Earlier, it used to take 2-3 days.

The new research is bound to accelerate the pace of investigations and administration of justice in drowning cases and provide scientific evidence. The study spanned over three years revealed that there were more deaths during the rainy season due to swelling of water channels.

The new method “Lefort reverse aqua regia digestion” (mix of Nitric acid and hydrochloric Acid in 3: 1 ratio) was used to detect diatoms from human body tissues and comparison of results with conventional methods showed that it was less time-consuming, diatoms showed more clarity and enhanced ratio in the tested samples.

The new technique was developed and tested by Arun Sharma, Director, Forensic Sciences, Himachal Pradesh, Dr SK Pal, Assistant Director, RFSL, Dharamsala, and Ajay Rana also from the RFSL. The technique was developed and validated over 200 drowning cases and the results were compared with the conventional method. The new method, which takes less time and is free from harmful acid vapours released during analysis of samples with the method in vogue, will bring revolution in resolving drowning cases, said Director, State Forensic Science Laboratory Arun Sharma.

New method is for detection of microscopic plants algae called diatoms, to establish ante-mortem or post-mortem drowning. This study, called Forensic Diatomology, is more relevant because of number of rivers, rivulets and water bodies like ponds, bawlis and water pools. The new research was presented at the 11th Asian Forensic Science Network (AFSN) at Vietnam on September 19 and Director, Forensic Medical Centre, Ho Chi Minh City.