A devastating tragedy struck on Thursday afternoon when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from India to London crashed near Ahmedabad, claiming 270 lives in one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Indian history.
According to official reports, the aircraft was carrying 242 passengers, of which only one survived. In addition to the onboard fatalities, 29 individuals on the ground also died when the aircraft crashed into a residential building. Among them were five MBBS students. The death toll has now reached 270, sparking nationwide grief and anger.
Due to the severity of the crash and the condition of the bodies, authorities have begun identifying the victims through DNA profiling. As of Saturday night at 9 PM, DNA identification of 31 bodies had been successfully completed, out of which 12 have been handed over to their families. The identification process is ongoing on a war footing, according to Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey and Dr. Rajnish Patel, Additional Superintendent at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad.
Officials emphasized that bodies will only be released to relatives after proper identification and completion of legal formalities. However, eight bodies, which were visually recognizable, were handed over without the need for DNA verification.
One of the prominent passengers on board was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. His body has not yet been identified, and efforts are underway to match DNA samples. Dr. Patel stated that an official announcement will be made once identification is confirmed. A medical bulletin is being released every two hours to update families and the media.
A joint investigation by the state and central governments has been initiated to determine the cause of the crash. Preliminary investigations are focusing on the possibility of a technical malfunction or human error. The Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation are actively involved in the probe.
Meanwhile, relatives of the deceased have gathered in large numbers at the hospital, anxiously waiting to identify their loved ones. The administration has set up counseling centers, temporary accommodations, and psychological support services. A special medical team has been assigned for autopsies, and authorities have assured that the entire process is being conducted with maximum transparency and sensitivity.