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Mumbai Sailor's Remains Return After 48 Days
19 Apr
Summary
- Dixit Solanki's last rites were performed 48 days after his death.
- Remains were charred, making DNA identification impossible.
- Bombay High Court intervention expedited the return of remains.
The final rites for Indian sailor Dixit Solanki, a resident of Kandivali, Mumbai, were conducted on Saturday, 48 days after his death. Solanki perished on March 1, 2025, in a missile strike off the coast of Oman while serving on a merchant vessel in West Asia. His remains arrived in Mumbai on April 5, 2025, over a month after the incident.
The family faced significant challenges in identifying the remains, which were described as charred debris with no amplifiable DNA. The Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories report indicated that DNA testing is often not feasible for such skeletal, charred remains. Despite these difficulties, the family pursued the identification and return of Solanki's remains.
Following a delay of more than a month and a lack of communication from authorities, the family approached the Bombay High Court. An urgent plea was filed, prompting the dispatch of the remains within three days of the petition. The family has yet to receive all of Solanki's personal belongings and plans to hold a prayer ceremony next week.
