Former IAS Karni Singh Rathore, who was said to be missing in the fire catastrophe on Jaipur-Ajmer Highway has been declared dead after Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) examination.
The fire tragedy so far has claimed 13 deaths while more than 35 people are fighting for their lives.
The FSL team matched the DNA of the remains in the charred car with the DNA of Rathore's daughter to arrive at conclusion that the former IAS lost his life in the tragedy.
Rathore, a 1987 batch IAS promoted from RAS, was said to be returning from his farmhouse on Ajmer Road.
“But his car – Maruti Dzire – was found burnt and he was missing from the spot. He didn't even return home,” said a police officer.
Rathore, who retired in 2008 December, had served as collector of Ajmer and Sri Ganganagar districts during his service. He retired as project director RUIDP.
Rathore had also served as registrar of Rajasthan University, chairman and managing director of Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam, excise commissioner and chairman and managing director Rajasthan Finance Corporation (RFC) among other positions.
Rathore is considered as a bold and straight forward officer.
People still remember his tenure as collector of Ajmer and Sri Ganganagar. He had served as collector Sri Ganganagar from February 1994 to April 1997 and then Ajmer collector from April 1997 to March 1999.
Rathore is said to have been close to the former chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Former IAS and former president of RAS Association RC Jain said that the death of Karni Singh Rathore is an irreparable loss to the society.
“He was a very good officer with proven credentials. He worked on his own terms and was no pushover. He had handled important portfolios both as an RAS as well as an IAS officer,” he said.
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