Cops collect DNA from missing worker’s parents

BHUBANESWAR: The commisssionerate police on Thursday started the process of conducting DNA testing of some injured body parts recovered near an Indian Oil petrol pump where a powerful explosion had taken place on October 7.
Police suspect the body parts belong to Simanchala Parida, a technician, who has been missing since the tragedy struck.
Simanchala (40) and four others were engaged by a private company to conduct safety inspection at the petrol pump’s auto LPG unit before refilling, when the cylinder went off and ripped through the fuel station. While one of the technicians died, three others have been undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack with burns. Simanchala belonged to Ganjam district.
“We collected blood samples from Simanchala’s parents. The DNA testing will be conducted at the state forensic science laboratory and the samples will be matched with the injured parts recovered from the blast site,” Capital Hospital director Laxmidhar Sahu said. Police said the DNA testing result is likely to come in three to four days.
Simanchala’s parents Trinath and Mala Parida were inconsolable. “He is my only son and the sole earner of our family. He was posted in Kolkata and often came to Bhubaneswar to work at the petrol pump. Neither the private company where he worked nor the IOCL has helped us trace our son. We demand a high-level inquiry into his case,” Mala said.
A few days ago, the family members conducted a symbolic funeral of Simanchala. “Failing to learn of his whereabouts and given the intensity of the blast, we assumed he is no more. As per practice, we performed his last rites,” Trinath said.
While the cause of the explosion is being separately probed by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas as well as the commissionerate police, the authorities of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) suspect it occurred due to leakage of auto LPG before refilling.
The commissionerate police have been examining the CCTV footage of the petrol pump. ”We have not come across evidence of negligence by anyone,” a senior police officer said.