Body of 61st victim unclaimed, may have been a guest: cops

MUMBAI: A week after the crash, the body of a man in his 30s is yet to be identified at the morgue in Sir JJ Hospital’s post-mortem centre.

The man is the 61st victim of the tragedy. The funerals of the others have already been conducted.

Forensic doctors at JJ hospital, who performed an autopsy on the body, said they have sent samples for DNA tests to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Kalina.

“In case there is a dispute about his identity later, we can do a DNA match with the claimants. The body has some marks that can help relatives identify him,” said a forensic expert, requesting anonymity.

Sources in the forensic department said some relatives of the victims, who had come to identify bodies, told them that the man’s face was familiar as he was a regular visitor at the home of one particular family in the building. However, this claim could not be confirmed by the police.

“We have informed other police stations to keep a watch on missing complaints that may match the details of the unidentified body,” said, Tanaji Ghadge, deputy commissioner of police, port zone. As the collapse took place early on Friday, the police suspect he might have been a guest of one the families.

Doctors said the body was brought to the hospital on the second day of rescue work. There were no identity papers on it.