Archive · 6 Sep 2026
DNA Samples Collected From Relatives of Nepal Flood Missing Tourists
A group of tourists from Tamil Nadu went to Nepal for a pilgrimage.
Floods affected many people in the group.
Some tourists are still missing.
Hospitals collected blood from their relatives to help identify them.
The samples can be compared with DNA from people who may have been found.
Officials collected 23 samples on Saturday.
More relatives may provide samples on Monday.
The results will be shared with governments in Tamil Nadu, Nepal and China.
Blood samples were collected from 23 relatives at Thanjavur Medical College Hospital for DNA testing.
The relatives were connected to 17 missing tourists from several Tamil Nadu districts.
A total of 57 tourists traveled to Nepal for a Kailash yatra in August, and 36 were caught in floods.
Sixteen missing tourists belong to Thanjavur district, according to district officials.
DNA reports will be sent to the Tamil Nadu, Nepal and China governments, with more samples expected Monday.
- Who
- Relatives of tourists missing after floods in Nepal, along with Tamil Nadu medical and government officials.
- What
- Blood samples were collected for DNA testing to help identify the missing tourists.
- When
- Samples were collected on Saturday; additional samples were expected Monday. The tourists traveled to Nepal in August.
- Where
- Thanjavur Medical College Hospital in Tamil Nadu; the tourists went missing in Nepal.
- Why
- To help determine the identities and whereabouts of tourists missing after the Nepal floods.
- Samples collected
- 23 blood samples
- Tourist group size
- 57 tourists traveled to Nepal
- Tourists affected by floods
- 36
- Missing from Thanjavur district
- 16 tourists
- Missing persons represented by sampled relatives
- 17
- Sample collection location
- Thanjavur Medical College Hospital
- Expected next step
- More samples may be collected Monday and reports sent to the relevant governments