Ahmedabad, June 20 — More than a week after the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, the Gujarat government announced that the identities of 220 victims have been confirmed through DNA testing, and 202 bodies have so far been handed over to their respective families. The update was shared by Gujarat Health Minister and government spokesperson Rishikesh Patel on Friday.
The devastating incident occurred on June 12, when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, en route to London, crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 PM. The plane went down within the premises of a medical college in the city, resulting in the deaths of 270 people, including residents near the crash site. Out of the 242 passengers on board, only one survived, while 29 others on the ground also lost their lives.
Due to the severe nature of the crash and the extent of the burns suffered by many victims, traditional identification was not possible for a significant number of bodies. As per agency report, authorities have been relying on DNA analysis to carry out the identification process.
Patel stated that DNA matches have been confirmed for 220 individuals, and efforts are underway to contact the remaining families. Of the 202 bodies already returned to relatives, 160 were Indian nationals, while the others included 34 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian citizen. He also mentioned that 15 bodies were sent by air to their native locations, while the remaining 187 were transported by road.
The identification and repatriation process continues, with government agencies working closely with bereaved families during this difficult time.
