In the wake of the devastating Air India AI-171 plane crash, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Saturday visited the Directorate of Forensic Sciences to review the ongoing DNA testing process aimed at identifying victims. He was accompanied by the Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police (Intelligence Bureau), and the Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).
Officials from the Gujarat Police also arrived at the Directorate as part of the coordinated response to the tragedy.
The identification process is critically dependent on DNA analysis, as most of the bodies were charred beyond recognition. DNA samples from relatives of the deceased are being collected at Ahmedabad’s BJ Medical College, with more than 250 samples gathered so far.
A grieving relative who had travelled from Patan district said, “My sister-in-law died in the crash. Her brother gave a DNA sample yesterday. Authorities have asked for 72 hours to match and confirm before handing over the body. We still don’t know how this happened. The committee must investigate thoroughly—so many lives were lost.”
The ill-fated Boeing Dreamliner 787-8, operating as Flight AI-171 and bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport on Thursday. Of the 241 people onboard, only one passenger survived.
Indian Medical Association (IMA) Gujarat President Dr. Mehul Shah confirmed that the crash also claimed the lives of four medical students and the wife of a doctor when the aircraft hit the BJ Medical College building.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has confirmed that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal investigation into the tragedy.
As authorities continue the daunting task of identifying victims and uncovering the cause of the crash, families await closure with grief and growing questions.