Air India crash: Authorities start handing over mortal remains to relatives of victims

Authorities at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, on Saturday, started handing over the mortal remains of people who died in the Air India aircraft crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

 

There were 242 people on the ill-fated Boeing 787 aircraft that had departed for London Gatwick, but crashed minutes after into buildings housing students and resident doctors of BJ Medical College.

 

Over the past two days, the authorities had been collecting DNA samples of the relatives of victims. The mortal remains are being handed over to the relatives after matching the DNA samples.

 

Of the 242 on board, only one survived miraculously. There were several fatalities on the ground, including a few students who were having lunch at the time in the mess, and people working in the mess kitchen among others.

 

On Saturday, Dr. Dhaval Ganeti, president of junior doctors association of BJ Medical College, told news agency PTI that 270 bodies had been brought to the Civil Hospital from the crash site.

 

At the crash site, the NDRF, fire officials and forensic investigators among others have been working tirelessly through the debris. On Saturday afternoon, the tail part of the Air India plane that was stuck in one of the buildings was recovered with the help of cranes. This and other parts will be crucial evidence for investigators who will go into every minute detail as they try to find the reasons that led to the deadly crash.

 

Multiple investigations have already been ordered into the crash. Air India also been ordered by the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) to carry out an inspection of its entire Boeing 787 fleet.

 

Air India said in a statement that the checks are being carried out as and when the planes return to India. It has completed such checks on nine of the aircraft and the process for the remaining 24  will be completed within the timeline provided by the regulator.

India