PIA plane crash: Sindh says all DNA tests to be done in Karachi after Punjab forensic teams arrive

Sindh Health Minister Azra Pechuho on Saturday said that DNA tests of victims of the PIA plane crash — which occurred a day earlier and to which 97 souls were lost — will be conducted at a Karachi University lab, calling it a state of the art facility.

The provincial health minister, Sindh government spokesman Murtaza Wahab, and Sindh information minister Nasir Hussain Shah addressed a press conference in Karachi to make the announcement, after a forensic team from Punjab had arrived to collect DNA samples.

Dr Pechuho said that Sindh Governor Imran Ismail is "unaware of matters pertaining to DNA tests", adding that the tests will be done in Sindh.

DNA tests to take 21 days

The provincial health minister said that the DNA tests will take 21 days and so far, 47 families have submitted their samples.

She said that 97 people died in the crash, adding that 68 men, 26 women, and three children were among those who died.

Of the deceased, the bodies of 66 are at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and 31 are at the Civil Hospital in Karachi. So far, 19 bodies have been identified.

Samples from all 97 bodies have been collected.

Dr Pechuho said that one wounded is at the Civil Hospital while another is at Darul Sehat Hospital.

Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that six residents of Model Colony were wounded during the incident, while 16 people were shifted to a local hotel.

He said that fire brigades, Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, Chhipa, Edhi, civil and military officials carried out rescue operations in collaboration.

The Sindh government spokesman said that ten cars and three motorcycles were also damaged in the incident.

He said that the moral and legal responsibility of the crash lies with PIA, and after determining the extent of loss, the airline should provide compensation.

Punjab Forensic Science Agency teams arrive in Karachi 

Earlier in the day, forensic teams from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency arrived in Karachi to collect DNA samples from the victims of the crashed aircraft.

Head of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency Dr Tahir Ashraf told Geo News three teams comprising forensic scientists had arrived.

“The teams will start collecting samples from today,” Dr Ashraf said.

He said the teams will collect samples from the bodies and the victims' parents, siblings or children to cross match and identify the victims. 

"As soon as the samples reach Lahore, we will work day and night to get the result out as soon as possible. The result of the DNA tests will be available in 24 hours,” he said.

PIA plane crash: No survivors except 2 as rescuers finish accounting for passengers

Meanwhile, PIA Spokesperson Abdullah Khan said that the process of identification and handing over bodies to the families is underway.

Abdullah Khan said that according to the PIA laws, the families will get Rs500,000 in compensation.

The spokesman said that the airline’s district managers will visit the homes of crash victims and pay for the burial process.

PM Imran Khan issued special directives under which one million rupees per deceased person will be given to the heirs of the victims.