Ahmedabad plane crash aftermath: 245 bodies given to kin; 251 victims identified through DNA tests till now | India News
A total of 251 of the 270 people who died in the June 12 plane crash in Ahmedabad have been identified with the help of DNA tests, officials confirmed on Sunday. Of these, 245 bodies have already been handed over to the bereaved families.The London-bound aircraft had taken off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm but crashed within minutes into a hostel complex in Meghaninagar, erupting in flames. The crash killed 270 people, including 241 passengers and crew. Only one passenger survived.Many of the victims’ bodies were severely charred or disfigured due to the intensity of the fire and the force of the impact, making DNA analysis the only viable method of identification.Dr Rakesh Joshi, medical superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, said, “A total of 251 victims of the crash have been identified through DNA tests. The bodies of 245 victims, comprising 176 Indians, 49 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian as well as 12 non-passengers, have been handed over to kin.”Among the deceased, 70 victims were from Ahmedabad, 24 from Vadodara, 26 from Anand, and 11 from Kheda. Others hailed from states such as Rajasthan, Manipur, Nagaland, Maharashtra, Bihar and the Union Territory of Diu.Dr Joshi said the entire process was being handled with care and urgency: “Since the process of DNA sample matching is very sensitive and involves legal protocol, it is being completed with seriousness and speed. The Forensic Science University and associated institutions, local administration, health and other departments of the state government and various agencies are working tirelessly to hand over the mortal remains to kin.”On Saturday, officials had to reach out again to the families of eight victims after the initial DNA samples provided did not match, requesting new samples from other close relatives.
