Is mass coffin-making underway in Vadodara as the Ahmedabad plane crash death toll rises?

Vadodara, June 14 (NationPress) Following the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, which resulted in the loss of 241 lives, the difficult mission of constructing coffins is actively taking place. In response to the overwhelming scale of this disaster, Air India has urgently ordered more than 100 coffins from a local Vadodara organization to ensure the respectful return of the deceased to their families.

The coffins are anticipated to reach Ahmedabad by late Saturday night, with 25 already sent out this afternoon. The artisans involved are navigating the emotional burden of their work.

Edwin, the leader of the coffin-making team, shared: “Typically, it takes us two to three hours to create a single coffin. We have seven to eight workers putting in round-the-clock efforts. However, this situation feels different. We are crafting coffins for such a vast number of souls. It’s almost surreal to comprehend such a tragedy. Our entire crew is profoundly affected.”

Each coffin is meticulously constructed from sturdy wood to ensure safe handling and preservation of the remains. Given the condition of several bodies, special considerations are made regarding their dimensions.

Additionally, a plastic lining is inserted within each coffin to prevent leakage and contamination, safeguarding both the remains and the staff handling them. “We worked late last night and managed to complete 25 coffins,” Edwin noted. “They departed for Ahmedabad at 3 p.m. today. The remaining coffins will be dispatched by night.”

In Ahmedabad, DNA identification of the victims is currently being conducted at the Civil Hospital. Bodies will only be released to families once forensic teams confirm their identities — a process that adds another layer of sorrow and delays for grieving relatives.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has made a heartfelt request to Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran for further support for students of B.J. Medical College who were either injured or lost their lives in this catastrophe.

The crash, which took place just minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, devastated a hostel that housed MBBS students when the aircraft struck the Atulyam building near Meghaninagar.

As the nation copes with the enormity of the tragedy, the IMA is taking steps to ensure that these aspiring doctors — many of whom are first and second-year students — are not overlooked in the relief efforts.

In a letter directed to Tata Sons, the IMA expressed: "These students were not just victims of the accident; they represented the future of our healthcare system. Their families deserve the same respect, compensation, and support as any other passenger impacted by the crash."