What Happened in the Air India Crash? Mass Autopsies Ongoing at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mass autopsies are taking place at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
- A large team of medical professionals is involved in the identification process.
- DNA samples are being requested from relatives for timely identification.
- Emergency helpline numbers have been released for families seeking information.
- There were previous technical issues with the aircraft involved in the crash.
Ahmedabad, June 13 (NationPress) Post-mortem examinations are currently taking place at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital following the tragic crash of an Air India aircraft carrying 242 individuals just moments after its departure from the city, as confirmed by officials on Friday.
A dedicated team of 70 to 80 medical professionals, including specialists from Primary and Community Health Centres in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Anand, and Nadiad, along with staff from the Civil Hospital, have been diligently working since Thursday evening.
Once the bodies are identified, they are being returned to their grieving families with utmost dignity and compassion.
As of Friday morning, five victims have been identified, and their remains have been handed back to their families.
Among the identified are two individuals from Rajasthan, two from Bhavnagar, and one from Madhya Pradesh.
The identification process is ongoing as more relatives arrive to help identify their loved ones among the deceased.
The hospital administration has requested relatives and close family members of the deceased to provide DNA samples to expedite the identification process.
Officials reported that DNA testing is being utilized to identify remains due to severe burns suffered by many bodies in the tragedy.
For those seeking information regarding patients or victims, the Civil Hospital has made available emergency helpline numbers: 6357373831, 6357373841.
Meanwhile, Anjali Rupani, the wife of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, arrived in Ahmedabad from London on Friday morning, just a day after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171, which claimed her husband’s life.
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi welcomed her at the airport and extended his condolences.
The same Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI-171) that crashed had experienced significant technical difficulties a month prior, leading to the cancellation of a scheduled flight from Ahmedabad to London.
At that time, passengers had expressed grave concerns over the airline's dependence on aging aircraft, citing repeated technical failures that disrupted their travel plans.
On the day of the crash, passengers of flight AI-171 faced a frustrating experience.
The flight, originally scheduled to depart from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:10 p.m., was cancelled after passengers were left waiting inside the aircraft for over two hours. Many had arrived early, anticipating a seamless international departure. Boarding commenced only at 2:00 p.m., during which passengers dealt with stifling conditions as the air conditioning intermittently failed.
Despite numerous inquiries, the airline crew failed to provide clear information regarding the delay or a new departure time.
Ultimately, passengers were informed that the flight was cancelled due to a technical issue. While Air India announced full refunds, passengers expressed their frustration.