Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi confirmed on Monday that DNA samples of 125 victims from the tragic Air India plane crash have been successfully matched, and families of 124 deceased have been contacted. So far, the mortal remains of 83 individuals have been handed over to their next of kin.
The London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 241 people, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
During his visit to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar, where DNA testing is being carried out, Sanghavi commended the efforts of the FSL and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) teams.
“For many days now, FSL and NFSU teams have been working around the clock. As of 10:58 pm, DNA samples from 131 victims had been matched, and six more certificates are expected shortly,” Sanghavi stated.
He highlighted that senior officials from the police and FSL had been present late into the night daily to ensure smooth and prompt operations. For the past three days, dedicated teams have worked through the night to accelerate the identification process, providing timely closure for grieving families.
Dr. Rakesh Joshi, Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, also provided an update on the ongoing efforts.
“DNA verification has been completed for 119 individuals. Of the remaining 43, the remains of 14 deceased will be handed over by tomorrow morning,” he said, adding that the hospital has been receiving numerous panic calls from relatives awaiting confirmation.
The Gujarat government is closely coordinating with Civil Hospital authorities to facilitate clear communication with families and expedite the handover of mortal remains. The identification and matching process remains ongoing as authorities race against time to provide answers and comfort to those affected by the devastating crash.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)