BAHAWALPUR: The district administration on Monday received another consignment of 17 results of the DNA tests from Lahore in the Ahmedpur Sharqia oil tanker episode.

Last month, the forensic medicines department of Quaid-i-Azam Medical College (QAMC), Bahawalpur, had dispatched the blood samples of as many as 125 victims along with samples of their relatives and families for identification.

Ahmedpur Sharqia Assistant Commissioner (AC) Mahar Abdul Raoof told Dawn that with the receiving of 17 [more] DNA results, the total number [of results] rose to 105. “Now only 20 results are being awaited.”

The AC said with the receiving of DNA results of charred bodies, the process of identifying [the tagged bodies] in graves was under way and [it] would be completed by Tuesday.

He said the identification process of the remaining nine charred/unidentified bodies buried temporarily in Azam Joya locality near Ahmedpur Sharqia would be carried out after their results were received by the administration from Lahore in due course of time.

Meanwhile, the district administration continued with the issuance of compensation cheques to the heirs of the victims and the injured.

The family members visited the Bahawalpur district accounts office for clearance of cheques to collect payments from their respective banks.

District Accounts Officer Farhan Ahmed Hamdani told this correspondent that so far 229 cheques had been cleared. According to the break-up, 172 cheques amounted to Rs2 million each and 57 meant for the injured valued at Rs1 million each.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2017