Impact of Clothing on Carcass decomposition for PMI Estimation in Assam

Abstract

Forensic Entomology is significant evidence that can be used to provide biological evidence for estimating the amount  of time after death (PMI)(Amendt et al., 2004; Anderson, 2019), especially in the situation of other traditional forms  of pathology being compromised. Environmental factors, particularly habitat characteristics, are an overriding factor  (Matuszewski et al., 2020) in carrion decomposition and colonization patterns by arthropods. The present study  examines the influence of habitat variation covered and uncovered terrestrial habitats on decomposition of carrion,  insect succession and developmental rates of insects in selected regions of Assam, India. Using animal carrion as  experimental models, stages of decomposition, insect succession and the larval development stages were  systematically recorded under the two habitat conditions. Results showed strongly delayed rates of decomposition,  changed assemblages of insects and extended developmental times in covered habitats to uncovered sites. The results  indicate that habitat-specific baseline data are required if PMI is to be estimated accurately. Recent advancements in  Artificial Intelligence (AI) based forensic entomology (Guleria et al., 2026; Srivastav et al., 2026a) are also covered  in relation to the field ecological data with a focus on the need that the technological developments are supported by  empirical data from a certain region. This study is valuable in providing valuable forensic entomological reference  data for Assam and add reliability in PMI reconstruction in different habitat context.