The document provides an in-depth overview of explosion injuries and their forensic aspects, detailing the types of explosive devices, the physics of explosions, and classifications of blast injuries. It highlights the mechanisms of harm caused by explosions, including primary, secondary, and tertiary injuries, as well as the impact on various organs such as the lungs, ears, and gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, it discusses investigative procedures and the medicolegal implications surrounding explosion-related incidents.

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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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