A high-level investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash, with both technical experts and civil aviation authorities examining flight data recorders and black box information retrieved from the crash site. Initial observations suggest a critical systems failure, but conclusive findings are awaited.
THE NEWS DOSE DESK
Ahmedabad, June 16
Four days after the devastating crash of an Air India Dreamliner in Ahmedabad that claimed 270 lives, authorities have successfully identified 87 victims through DNA testing and handed over the remains of 47 individuals to their respective families. The painstaking identification process continues, as many bodies were charred beyond recognition or severely damaged in the impact.
The tragic incident occurred on June 12, when a London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft went down in a densely populated area, colliding with buildings on the campus of a medical college, compounding the scale of devastation. While 241 passengers and crew members perished, one passenger survived the crash against all odds. Additionally, 29 people on the ground—including five medical students—also lost their lives in the catastrophe.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Additional Civil Superintendent Dr. Rajnish Patel said, “Till now, 87 DNA samples have been matched, and 47 bodies have already been handed over to the respective families.” He noted that the victims hailed from various districts across Gujarat, including Bharuch, Anand, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Vadodara, Kheda, Mehsana, Arvalli, and Ahmedabad.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), forensic experts, and district authorities are working around the clock to expedite the identification and release of remains to grieving families. The scale of destruction has made the process extremely complex, requiring coordination between state laboratories, hospitals, and local police stations.
Meanwhile, a high-level investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash, with both technical experts and civil aviation authorities examining flight data recorders and black box information retrieved from the crash site. Initial observations suggest a critical systems failure, but conclusive findings are awaited.
The Gujarat government has announced ex gratia assistance for the victims’ families, and counselling services have been set up for the bereaved. Across the state, vigils and prayer meetings have been held in memory of those who lost their lives in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters in decades.
