Seventy seven persons still missing in recent floods: Chief Secretary

Procedures are to be followed for Registration of Death of Missing persons during the flash floods of October 4, 2023 for issuance of Death Certificate

EOI, GANGTOK, DEC 2, 2023 : A press conference was convened by VB Pathak, Chief Secretary, in the conference hall of Tashiling Secretariat today. The press conference pertained to the issuance of death certificates to the missing persons in the recent flash floods in Sikkim.

The Chief Secretary announced that 77 persons are still reported missing as per Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) data.

He also said that relief, benefits etc for the deceased are yet to be disbursed as family members of the missing 77 persons are yet to come forward with their claim. The Chief Secretary said that the State Government has been directed to adopt the same procedures followed in similar disaster-stricken States like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. As per the established norms, the following procedures are to be followed for Registration of Death of Missing persons during the flash floods of October 4, 2023 for issuance of Death Certificate:

A. In case missing person is from Affected areas/Nearby areas/Local:

1. FIR/Missing Person Report should be filed by close relatives or next of kin at the place of residence of the person who is missing and presumed dead.

2. The FIR/Missing Person Report should be referred to the concerned Police Station under whose jurisdiction the person went missing.

3. Notarized Affidavit issued by SDM/ ADC/DC regarding 'missing’ should be filed by next of kin and should be kept as a permanent record.

4. The FIR/Missing Person Report should then be forwarded to the designated officer, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of the affected jurisdiction along with report of Police Station and supporting documents for identification like Ration Card, Family Register, Bank Passbook, Voter Card, Aadhar Card and Gram Panchayat Report.

5. The designated officer (SDM) should conduct a detailed enquiry regarding the missing person.

6. The designated officer (DC) should issue a speaking order regarding the provisional presumption of death.

7. The designated officer (DC) should publish the list of missing persons provisionally presumed dead in the Newspaper, Government Gazette in Hindi and English and also host the same on the Government Website for the purpose of obtaining Claims and Objections.

8. Claims and Objections should be received within 30 days. If no claim or objection is received within the time period, the designated Registrar of Births & Deaths should record online and issue the Death Certificate. In case of any claims and objection, appeal would be lie with the District Collector of the State.

9. The death certificate should be made available free of cost to the next of kin. The death certificate should also be sent to the Police Station where the FIR/Missing Person Report was filed.

B. In case the missing person is from other Districts /Tourist/Other parts of India:

1. 'FIR/Missing Person Report’ should be filed by close relatives or next of kin at the place of residence in the originating district/ state.

2. If FIR/Missing Person Report has already been filed in calamity affected areas, the designated officer SDM of the affected jurisdiction, should forward the same to the designated officer (SDM/SHO) of the police station at the place of usual residence in the district/ state of origin of the missing person, for local enquiry at their end.

3. The enquiring officer in the originating district/state should conduct enquiry to establish the facts that the missing person is genuine.

4. Based on the enquiry report of the officer in the originating district/state, the designated officer/SDM in affected areas should cross check the list and may issue an order regarding the provisional presumption of death by the SDM/DC of affected areas. This order should be communicated to the designated officer in originating district/state.

5. On receipt of such Order, the designated officer (SDM) in the originating district/state should cause publication of the list of missing persons presumed dead in the Newspaper, Government Gazette in Hindi and English and also host the same on the Government Website for the purpose of Claims and Objections.

6. Claims and Objections may be received within 30 days. If no claim or objection is received within the time period, the designated officer SDM/DC in the originating district/state should send a report to the designated officer in affected areas.

7. Based on this report, the designated Registrar of Births & Deaths Cell of affected areas of the State should issue the Death Certificate.

8. In case of Claims and Objections, an appeal would lie with the officer (District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner/District Collector of the originating district of State immediately superior to the designated officer. After dealing with the appeal, speaking orders should be sent to the designated officer in affected areas of the State, who would then take appropriate action to issue the death certificate or deny it. Others who attended the press conference include Anil Raj Rai, Relief Commissioner-cum- Secretary, Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Dr AB Karki, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, and Ms Karma D Youtso, Secretary, IPR Department.