Ahmedabad: A day after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, officials confirmed that six bodies have been identified and handed over to the victims’ families. The process of DNA profiling is underway for the remaining deceased, most of whom were charred beyond recognition.

Inspector Chirag Gosai, who is overseeing operations at the Civil Hospital’s post-mortem unit, stated, “We have handed over six bodies to relatives. We have started the process of collecting DNA samples of relatives for profiling to identify bodies that are charred beyond recognition. Relatives of 215 deceased persons have approached us to give their samples.”

According to Gosai, only six victims could be identified visually, as their faces remained intact following the incident. The rest of the 265 bodies, which were brought to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, are in a condition that requires forensic analysis for identification.

DNA collection underway

Explaining the identification process, Inspector Gosai added, “It will take nearly 72 hours to complete the exercise of matching the DNA samples. Once there is a match, bodies will be handed over to relatives from the post-mortem room.”

He noted that they are gathering personal details from families as they arrive at the post-mortem room. “These people are then sent to BJ Medical College to provide their DNA samples,” Gosai said.

Crash details and casualties

The devastating crash occurred on Thursday afternoon when Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI171), bound for London Gatwick, plunged into the BJ Medical College complex in the Meghaninagar area, just moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

There were 242 people on board, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, 168 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian national.

Only one person miraculously survived the crash, while 241 passengers and crew members perished in what is being described as one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history.

Victims outside the aircraft

Tragically, the crash also claimed lives on the ground. Among the deceased were four MBBS students and the wife of a doctor, who were at the BJ Medical College complex, located just beyond the airport perimeter.

(PTI inputs)