GUWAHATI, Oct 31 – The death toll in the serial blasts in Assam has gone up to 77 and the possibility of casualties further increasing cannot be ruled out with the condition of over 20 injured still stated to be serious. So far six persons have succumbed to their injuries at the GMCH alone, of which two died this morning.

Over 95 injured victims are still being treated at the GMCH, of which around 30 are likely to be released tomorrow. Among them, 10 are said to be in critical condition. Twenty-two persons were brought dead to the GMCH on Thursday.

In Kokrajhar, two more blast victims succumbed to their injuries with the death toll in the district scaling to 23.

Meanwhile, the State Government is likely to conduct DeoxyriboNucleic Acid (DNA) tests on the bodies of seven unidentified lawyers, who were amongst those killed in the blast in between the DC Office and the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate on Thursday.

The tests would be conducted to identity the deceased, informed Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while talking to a section of media persons at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital here today.

“The bodies are badly burnt and the family members of some of the blast victims are finding it difficult to identify their near and dear ones, which is why we have decided to conduct DNA tests for authentic identification,” the State Government spokesperson said.

“This is the first time we would be conducting DNA tests on blast victims,” Sarma stated, adding, “samples have been taken and will be sent for tests as soon as possible”.

“Radiological investigation is being done and the authorities are leaving no stone unturned to ensure quality treatment of the injured,” Sarma said.

Sarma further informed that 29 of the injured have been shifted to the Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital while another 20 are being nursed at the Army Hospital.

The more than 250 doctors who are working contineously, are being supported by an equal number of postgraduate students of the GMCH.

Dr Rituraj Chaliha, Head of the Department, Forensic Science Department, GMCH, while talking to this Correspondent, informed that 46 blast victims have been identified till the time of filing of this report.

Regarding DNA tests, he informed that they would have to wait for another 24 hours to go ahead for the tests.

“We can conduct DNA tests only after 72 hours. For the tests, we would collect samples of bone and tooth and then sent it to Forensic Science Laboratory for the tests,” Dr Chaliha informed. “If felt necessary, the samples could even be sent to Hyderabad,” he added.

Some of the dead who have been identified in the last 36 hours are Yazul Haque, Nekib Ali, Hari Prasad Sarkar, Chandful Kalita, Umesh Haloi, Bipul Kalita, Rubul Ali, Naren Das, Dinesh Das, Bikash Dutta, Mokib Ali, Bhabendra Deb Sarmah, Moni Barman, Pitalu T Yepta, Rajesh Choudhury, Abul Kalam Ahmed, Reena Deka, Sunanda Talukdar, GY Randipi, Dilip Borah, Manju Mandal, Rohit Das, Sonali Janah, Utpal Barman, Deepamoni Saikia, Mamoni Saloi, Sonali Ali, Samarjeet Kalita, Jagat Das, Tulen Das, Mahesh Chandra Sahu, Jyotsna Sinha and Ratul Das.

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