To identify unidentified and unclaimed deceased persons kept in government mortuaries across the state, Punjab has launched a digital public identification portal, “Pehchaan”.
This is the first of its kind portal in the country, which will help relatives living in India and abroad to identify their near and dear ones who have lost their lives in accidents or otherwise.
Once a claimant submits an online claim, the concerned Investigating Officer in the police department is automatically notified to proceed further.
According to available data approximately 5,000 to 6,000 persons die as unknown and unclaimed in Punjab alone.
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh while launching the portal yesterday, informed that under the ‘Pehchaan’ initiative, facial photographs, permanent identification marks.
These include tattoos, birthmarks, and deformities; and detailed physical descriptions of every unidentified, unclaimed deceased person will be uploaded to the portal within 48 hours of postmortem at any government mortuary in Punjab.
All 23 districts and 346 government hospitals in the state are connected with the portal, which is publicly accessible and free of charge through all official websites of the State Health Department.