During a recent press meet conducted in the morning of June 19, 2024, Dr. Rakesh Joshi, the Superintendent of Civil Hospital Ahmedabad, gave a crucial report of the consequences of the tragic Air India plane crash. As per Dr. Joshi, DNA samples of 211 deceased bodies have been identified till date and 189 of them have already been returned to their families.
Dr. Joshi added that eight families would come in the near future to repatriate the remains of their kin, while two others would come tomorrow. And 11 other families are waiting for DNA identification of their remaining kin on board the ill-fated jet. Among 189 victims whose bodies have been repatriated, 142 of them were Indian nationals, 32 British, 7 from Portugal, 1 Canadian, and 7 non-passengers.
Giving a crisp district-wise breakdown, Dr. Joshi said the following below are deceased whose bodies have been released: 7 from Udaipur, 20 from Vadodara, 10 from Kheda, 55 from Ahmedabad, 6 from Mehsana, 1 from Botad, 1 from Jodhpur, 2 from Aravalli, 16 from Anand, 5 from Bharuch, 11 from Surat, 1 from Patan, 6 from Gandhinagar, 2 from Maharashtra, 14 from Diu, 1 from Junagadh, 2 from Amreli, 5 from Gir Somnath, 1 from Mahisagar, 1 from Bhavnagar, 1 from Patna, 3 from Rajkot, 9 from Mumbai, 1 from Nadiad, 2 from Jamnagar, 2 from Dwarka, 1 from Sabarkantha, 2 from London, and 1 from Nagaland.
He has reported that the process of DNA matching is very sensitive and it is of earnest legal and scientific procedure, and therefore being done with seriousness and urgency. Dr. Joshi has further reported that Forensic Science University teams, state government, state health department, and other relevant departments are working in coordination to provide remains in a timely and respectful manner to the mourning families.
The history of the deadly mishap goes back to June 13, 2024, when an Air India passenger plane, to travel from Ahmedabad to London, crashed in a short flight after departure within the residential area of Meghani Nagar. The plane had, as per reports, more than 240 crew and passengers. The crash was severe, and this at once led to a mass rescue and identification exercise. As a result of the intensity of impact and subsequent fire, identification was largely left to be done by means of DNA.
The accident has also sounded a warning on the issue of aircraft maintenance, safety in flights, and preparedness in responding to emergencies. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered an official probe into the crash and engaged the services of foreign aviation professionals to establish the cause of the crash and prevent such accidents in the future.
This tragic event still sends shockwaves all over the country, as the relatives enter mourning and wait for closure. The government and health officials remain to be busy on helping the families of the victims and maintaining transparency on the probe process.
