Mahdia tragedy: Forensic pathologist from Barbados arrives to help identify bodies

Forensic Pathologist Dr. Shubhakar Karra Paul is in Guyana assisting health authorities with the identification of persons who died in the horrific fire at the Mahdia Secondary School Female Dormitory.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali told the News Room that Dr. Paul arrived in Guyana on Tuesday, after Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley offered assistance to Guyana.

The Forensic Pathologist is expected to help with the identification of some 13 bodies through DNA testing; these bodies are believed to be badly charred and as such, has posed challenges to local authorities seeking to establish identities.

Dr. Paul, according to information reliably provided to the News Room, is collecting DNA samples from about four sets of relatives of the victims that have been unidentified so far. These relatives have been flown into Georgetown.

He is expected to travel to Mahdia on Wednesday to collect samples from the remaining families.

A total of 19 persons- 18 girls and one boy- died in the fire. Six autopsies have already been completed.