Former Gujarat CM Rupani among 80 plane crash victims identified via DNA testing
The mortal remains of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani have been identified through DNA testing of the charred bodies recovered from the wreckage of the Air India flight AI171 that crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12, officials said on Sunday.
DNA testing has confirmed the identities of 80 victims so far. Rupani was among the 242 passengers on board the Ahmedabad-London flight, 241 of whom were killed and one person miraculously survived in what was India’s worst aviation disaster in three decades. Another 29 persons, including five MBBS students, were killed on the ground in the plane crash.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited Rupani’s residence in Rajkot to inform his family about the identification of the remains. “The state will fully support the final rites,” state Health Minister Rushikesh Patel told reporters outside BJ Medical College mortuary where identification efforts were underway.
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Rameshbhai Sanghavi said several teams were working round the clock to match samples. “From 9 pm last night to 1 pm today, we have made significant progress. These are emotionally and technically challenging hours for our teams,” the minister said.
The high-impact crash and resulting fire left several bodies unrecognisable, making DNA matching the only reliable identification method.
“Each release of remains happens only after confirmation to prevent any errors. The process is being conducted with scientific precision and utmost sensitivity,” said Dr Rajneesh Patel, Additional Superintendent at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad.
Among those identified, 33 bodies have been handed over to families. The victims include residents of Ahmedabad (4), Mehsana (4), Vadodara (2), and one each from Kheda, Aravalli, Botad and Udaipur.
To assist the bereaved, the Gujarat Government has deployed more than 230 dedicated response teams. Each team consists of a senior administrator, a police officer and a trained counsellor, tasked with offering emotional, logistical and procedural support throughout the aftermath.
Meanwhile, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), along with central and state agencies, continues to investigate the cause of the crash. Search and evidence recovery efforts remain active at the site as the authorities seek answers in the wake of the tragedy.
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