Synergizing Odontology and DNA Profiling for Enhanced Disaster Victim Identification: Insights from Anthropological Perspectives in India

Abstract

The disaster-prone areas of India need efficient DVI methods because thousands of people die from floods and earthquakes annually while upholding human dignity according to anthropological principles and allowing families to find closure. The combination of odontology with DNA profiling enables quick and budget-friendly victim identification through dental records and genetic markers. The current identification process faces multiple obstacles because postmortem deterioration occurs, while dental morphological differences between ethnic groups in Indian populations and insufficient forensic resources result in extended identification periods and ethical problems during mass casualty events. The research unites dental and DNA identification techniques to boost disaster victim identification speed while using anthropological knowledge from Indian disaster cases. The research aims to assess the combined method's precision and operational speed across different ethnic populations while developing an identification system that respects cultural diversity. The research used a mixed-methods approach to study 50 postmortem cases from Indian disasters which occurred during the 2018 Kerala floods and 2021 Chamoli glacier burst. I obtained antemortem dental records and X-rays, and DNA samples from teeth and bones for this study. The research combined odontology for preliminary victim sorting through FDI charting and digital scanning with DNA testing that employed STR and mitochondrial PCR for analysis. The researchers used SPSS statistical techniques to analyze their data, including t-tests for time efficiency, chi-square tests for match rates, and Kappa coefficients for evaluating inter-rater reliability. The study showed fewer identification errors in tribal communities, and the integrated identification system reduced the overall identification time from 72 hours to 48 hours while achieving 85% accuracy. The study demonstrates how this methodological approach addresses current protocol issues that are absent from India's National Disaster Management Authority guidelines. The study develops a unique hybrid system for Indian culturally diverse regions, yielding important findings regarding improved repatriation outcomes and suggestions for the creation of a national database and ethical standards for the indigenous population. The research links technological solutions with anthropological knowledge to build disaster response methods that show greater compassion.