Islamabad: Paramedics were taking blood samples Thursday from close relatives for DNA tests to identify the remains of those who died in the plane crash in Pakistan.
Pakistani private airline, Airblue's flight ED202 crashed in the Margalla hill range of Islamabad killing all 146 passengers and six crew on Wednesday.
Officials said Thursday that bodies of some 80 victims had been identified despite being badly mutilated, after rescuers and workers completed the painful task of collecting human remains from the hilly terrain. Their task was made more difficult due to the monsoon rain.
While grieving relatives arrived from Karachi, from where the plane started its fateful journey to Islamabad, Interior Minister Rahman Malek told the media that an investigation team had been set up and hectic search was on to find the black box of the Airbus.
The minister said the search operation was going on at the site of the crash, despite torrential rains which continued to lash the region for the second day.
Malek said the process of DNA tests to identify and hand over the remains to the kith and kin would be completed as soon as possible.
The recovered body parts were kept in the mortuary of the main hospital in Islamabad where a special desk was functioning to provide information to visitors.
Cover all aspects
Responding to a question by reporters, the Interior Minister said the inquiry into the plane disaster would cover all aspects, including possibility of sabotage.
Media reports said the pilot of the ill-fated flight strayed from the normal landing approach and flew towards Margalla Hills, leading to the crash.
Preliminary investigations by the aviation authorities have indicated that the pilot's navigational error could be the likely cause of the crash and that the air traffic control tower's role was also under scrutiny for failing to warn the pilot that he had veered off the flight path.
