Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Four days after the fatal crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, authorities have confirmed that DNA tests have successfully identified 144 victims.
Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, announced the progress on Tuesday, stating that forensic teams are continuing their efforts with urgency and compassion.
A joint team from the State Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the National Forensic Sciences University is leading the painstaking identification process.
“This is not merely a technical exercise. Each match brings a grieving family one step closer to closure,” said an official involved in the forensic operations.
With many bodies severely damaged in the explosion and fire in the Ahmedabad plane crash, DNA testing has become essential.
Authorities are also working closely with relatives to maintain transparency and dignity throughout the process.
Rescue operations at Meghaninagar, where the AI-171 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, remain intense.
Over 300 firefighters, backed by 60 fire vehicles and 20 water bowsers from Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, and other districts, are actively clearing debris and extinguishing smouldering fragments.
Personnel from the NDRF, CRPF, Indian Army, CISF, BSF, and Western Railway Disaster Management teams are conducting systematic searches for body parts and passengers’ personal effects.
Specially trained sniffer dogs have been deployed to locate human remains.
In response to reports of scavenging by stray animals at the crash site, Ahmedabad Police have coordinated animal rescue teams to prevent further disturbance and ensure respectful handling of all remains.
The Tata Group, which regained ownership of Air India in 2022, has announced an ex gratia payment of ₹1 crore to the families of each deceased victim.
Meanwhile, an interim relief of ₹25 lakh has already been disbursed to each bereaved family and the lone survivor to meet immediate needs.
Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran described the crash as ‘one of the darkest days in the Group’s history’.
He also confirmed that they would cover all medical expenses for the injured and provide financial assistance to rebuild the damaged hostel at BJ Medical College.
Authorities further emphasise their ongoing commitment to supporting the families and maintaining open communication.
The magnitude of the disaster has prompted a unified response from multiple government and private agencies, working in coordination to ensure dignity, transparency, and swift recovery.
As of June 17, efforts continue with the same intensity, even as the scale of the tragedy becomes more deeply felt across the country.
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