At Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital, more than 200 families have given DNA samples to help identify victims of the devastating plane crash that claimed hundreds of lives. With many bodies charred beyond recognition or fragmented, DNA testing remains the only reliable method to confirm identities.

Forensic experts are working around the clock, but the process could take up to 72 hours. Families have travelled from across India and the UK, clinging to hope and seeking answers.

The tests would be conducted at forensic laboratories in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

DNA—our unique genetic blueprint—can survive extreme conditions and is extracted from remains such as bone or tissue. These samples are then matched with reference DNA from relatives or personal belongings like combs, toothbrushes, or even medical records.

This meticulous process, known as DNA profiling, not only brings closure to grieving families but is also vital for legal identification and for issuing death certificates required for official purposes.

The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft, carrying 242 people, went down around 1:38 pm, slamming into a dormitory at BJ Medical College in Meghani Nagar—just as students were gathering for lunch—marking India’s deadliest air disaster in nearly three decades.