Diatomological Mapping of Aurangabad Region for Unrevealing Drowning Mystery

Abstract Purpose:Drowning is the third unnatural cause of death in India. Drowning death is still considered as one of the most difficult to investigate, it requires the expertise in the pathophysiology and limnology. Long procedural protocol in laboratory analysis of vital organs and the site to obtain the victim and site-relation that creates a burden on the investigating agency. The presence of diatoms in the vital organs of the body helps to establish the pre- or post-mortem drowning death and the appearance of site-specific/unique diatoms for a region aids into locating the exact drowning site. The onsite identification can be solved by studying the diversity and preparing the diatoms map (D-map). Availability of D-map can help to reduce the investigation time and helps in confirmation of the drowning site.Methods:In the present study, samples were collected from the 12 water bodies in Aurangabad region M.S. India, and were acid digested, using Aqua regia solution containing HNO3: H2SO4 in 1:3 proportion in 20ml of water sample. Slides were prepared, mounted and microscopic analysis was performed using light and inverted phase microscope.Results:The D-map was generated and it featured 55 identified species, amongst the members of Nitzschia, Navicula and Cymbella were commonly found in many water bodies, while Craticula, Gomphonema, Tibetiella, Melosira, Pleurosira, and Mastogloia were restricted to only single water body. These unique diatoms can be used as site-specific indicators in drowning investigation of Aurangabad region. This study generated diatomic map for experimental water body present in Aurangabad region.Conclusion:These D-maps will be helpful in dispense a significant information about water bodies and their common as well as unique flora with a qualitative and quantitative distribution of diatoms. D- Map generated in this study can be harnessed to update knowledge of diatomology or diatoms database and generated data will aid in drowning investigation.