3. EXPLOSION INJURIES &
THEIR FORENSIC
ASPECTS
Dr. VISHAL B. SURWADE,
Assistant Professor,
Forensic Medicine & Toxicology.
3
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.
4
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
8
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
9
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
10
11. CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
Can be gaseous, liquid or solid
Black powder
Nitroglycerin
Dynamite
TNT (Tri Nitro Toluene)
IED
Booby Traps
11
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)
12
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)
14
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.
17
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.
18
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
19
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”
20
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.
22
Multiple shrapnel entry sites (black arrows) and
penetrating injury to intestine (white arrows).
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
25
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
27
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
29
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.
30
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
31
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
32
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
34
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
35
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.
36