Short description of Forensic aspects of Blast injuries with a spotlight over possible mass disaster in bug public gatherings like that of Kumbh Mela.

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3. EXPLOSION INJURIES &
THEIR FORENSIC
ASPECTS
Dr. VISHAL B. SURWADE,
Assistant Professor,
Forensic Medicine & Toxicology.
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4. BOMB
 The word comes from Greek word bombos
 An explosive device, usually some kind of
container filled with explosive materials ,
designed to cause destruction when set off.
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7. Suicide Bomber’s Belt
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8. EXPLOSION INJURIES
Explosive material is suddenly converted into a large
volume of gas with a release of a tremendous amount of
energy
Pressure: up to 1000 tons per square inch (psi)
Temperature : up to 3000 degree Celsius
Solid surfaces reflects the blast waves and increases the
intensity of the blast injury
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9. DEFINITION of EXPLOSION
Explosion is an phenomenon resulting from sudden
release of energy which is then dissipated by a blast wave,
by translocation of the objects in the space or by heat
generation.
Classified into three types:
Atomic
Mechanical
Chemical
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10. EXPLOSIVES
Defined u/sec. 4 (d) of Indian Explosive Act,1884.
It may be High order
Explosion is supersonic
Blast contains a over-pressurized wave
Low order explosive
Explosion is not as fast as the speed of sound
No over-pressurization wave
 Crackers & Batteries
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11. CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
Can be gaseous, liquid or solid
Black powder
Nitroglycerin
Dynamite
TNT (Tri Nitro Toluene)
IED
Booby Traps
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12. INJURIES FROM EXPLOSION ARE MAINLY DUE
TO FOUR FACTORS
Blast /shock waves(spreads concentrically from explosion
site at a speed of sound)
Flames/ Hot gases(extensive burns with blackening &
Tattooing)
Flying missiles
Anoxia(CO,H2S, Nitrous &
nitric Gases will cause
histotoxic anoxia)
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14. CLASSIFICATION: BOMB BLAST INJURIES
Primary blast injuries: direct effect of “blast overpressure.”
Injuries are due to compressed air, which tends to affect air –
filled organs such as Lungs, GIT, middle ear, etc.
Secondary blast injuries: due to flying objects generated by
the actual blast.
Tertiary Blast injuries: occurs when victims are thrown into
the air and strike other objects.
Miscellaneous blast injuries: injuries due to fire, collapse of
buildings , etc. (Collateral damages)
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15. Blast waves from explosion
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17. DISRUPTIVE EFFECTS
When in immediate vicinity of an
explosion , victims' body would be
blown into the pieces and small parts
of the body may be scattered over a
wide area
When at a little distance away from
the explosion , the injuries may be
limited to the blowing off of the head
or a limb or mangling of a localised
area.
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18. FLAME OR RADIANT HEAT
Extensive burns
Depends upon the total thermal energy , &
duration of the explosion.
Degree of the burns is directly proportional
to the rate of the explosion
Areas affected by the flash burns are dry,
reddish brown & parchment like.
Duration of exposure is small, so superficial
burns.
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19. DAMAGE TO EAR DUE TO AIR BLAST
Most sensitive to blast
Rupture of tympanic membrane
Damage to cochlea & Eustachian tube
Deafness (sensorineural or conductive or both)
Ossicular chain gets affected
Tinnitus
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20. DAMAGE TO LUNGS DUE TO AIR BLAST
Alveolar haemorrhage due to tearing of
alveolar septa
Lungs are bruised due to direct blow on the
chest by bomb fragments and debris.
Chest X-ray showing typical bilateral patchy
infiltrates.
Commonly known as “Blast Lungs”
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22. DAMAGE TO GIT
Intestinal rupture
Haemorrhage beneath the
peritoneum and into the mesentery
and omentum
Blunt trauma to the abdomen can
cause solid organ injuries like liver,
renal and splenic contusion,
lacerations and haemorrhage.
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Multiple shrapnel entry sites (black arrows) and
penetrating injury to intestine (white arrows).

23. DAMAGE TO CNS
 Concussion
 Cerebral
haemorrhage
 Coup-contrecoup
 Whiplash injury
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25. INVESTIGATION
Photographs and sketches of the scene
Panchnama of the site
Complete body X Ray before and after the removal of the clothes as
fragments of the bomb may be trapped within the clothing or in
tissues.
Clothes should be preserved
Tiny fragments may reveal the bomb mechanism
Distribution of the injuries should be carefully drawn on a diagrams
Autopsy
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27. POST- MORTEM EXAMINATION
Identification(in case of fragmented body parts or in case of
mass disasters)
Radiological examination
Collection of surface evidence
Documentation of injuries
Identification of natural diseases
Collection of internal samples
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28. BODY STIPPLING
Classic triad of
Abrasion
Contusion &
Laceration
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29. INJURIES DUE TO EXPLOSION
Blunt impact injuries
Incised
Penetrating
Burns
Fractures
Scattered foci of small internal haemorrhages in brain,
lungs, bowel and mesentery
Ruptured stomach, intestines and bladder
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30. SAMPLES PRESERVATION
For tissue matching: Hair & blood
For Toxicology: Blood(for Carboxy
haemoglobin, Cyanide and Phosphorus),
urine
For Histopathology: to detect ARDS,
pulmonary contusion or myaoglobinuric
renal failure resulting from crush syndrome.
Trace evidences: Glass and other foreign
materials , clothing and foot wears.
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31. CAUSE OF DEATH
Burns
Blunt force trauma
Falling debris
Asphyxia due to inhalation of product of combustion
Crush syndrome
Shock and haemorrhage
Air embolism
Delayed causes: Septicaemia
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32. MEDICOLEGAL ASPECTS
Accidental (In case of LPG Cylinder or
Dynamite explosion )
Suicidal : Suicide bombers
Identification of the deceased.
Homicidal : as in case of terrorist activities
Sabotage activity by various ultra leftist outfits
Passenger Aircraft explosion
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34. IF THERE IS MASS DISASTER??
Ujjain is hosting Simhast.
Any untoward event: In case of living as well as in dead
Real challenge in front of the administration ( for both Civil and
Medical)
Set up field hospital with field Forensic Lab.
Proper collection & maintain the proper chain of custody of the
samples
Help line numbers
Use of social media
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35. REFERENCES
 Blast Injuries ”True Weapons of Mass Destruction” by Charles Stewart
 Jane’s Defence Weekly: July,2014
 Modi’s Medical Jurisprudence- 24th Edition
 Essentials of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology: Anil Aggarwal
 India Defence.com
 Wikipedia.com
 Times of India clippings
 The Hindu clippings
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36. NUCLEAR EXPLOSION
 Thousands of times more powerful
 Large proportion of energy is liberated along
with potentially harmful radiation(alpha, beta
and gamma radiations)
 Injuries caused are same as that of high
explosive blasts like collapse of the buildings
and flying missiles.
 Damages are caused by thermal radiation
consisting of UV and IR rays causing flash burns
 Radioactive contamination of food, water and
air.
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