While the City Watched in Shock, These Youth Rescued Injured Dogs and Birds From the Ahmedabad Crash Site
On June 12, 2025, Ahmedabad was rocked by a harrowing tragedy when Air India Flight AI-171, bound for Gatwick Airport in London, crashed shortly after takeoff. The catastrophe claimed the lives of 241 people and sparked a massive fire, engulfing vehicles and nearby open spaces in flames. In the aftermath, the Civil Aviation Ministry announced the formation of a high-level, multi-disciplinary committee to investigate the cause of the crash.
As rescue and recovery efforts unfolded, another crisis was taking shape just beyond the headlines. The blaze had not only devastated families, but it had also torn through a habitat home to dozens of stray animals. That is when the local non-governmental organisation, NGO Darshana Animal Welfare decided to take action.
Founder Akash Chavda, speaking to Asian News International, ANI, recounted how his team rushed to the crash site with their ambulance and were met with the heartbreaking sight of charred vehicles, scorched ground, and the lifeless bodies of animals that had been caught in the flames. According to Chavda, at least six or seven dogs and over 50 birds perished in the fire. But amid the devastation, there were also lives to be saved.
Watch the video here:
Working from mid-afternoon until nearly midnight, the team managed to rescue several injured animals, including three to four dogs and around six to seven birds. Many were in shock, unable to eat or move freely, but are now under veterinary care and receiving food, medicines, and multivitamins.
These animals, many of them local strays who had grown reliant on the area’s residents for food and companionship, are now struggling with the loss of both their fellow creatures and the people who once looked after them. Darshana’s team continues to provide milk, biscuits, and medical support, doing everything they can to bring comfort to the forgotten victims of the crash.
In a moment of overwhelming human tragedy, this act of compassion is a reminder that care, in all its forms, matters, especially when it is extended to those who have no voice of their own.
Edited by Saumya Singh; Video courtesy Darshana Animal Welfare
News