DNA of 32 Ahmedabad plane crash victims identified, 14 bodies handed over

Three days after the tragic Air India Boeing plane crash in Ahmedabad, authorities have successfully identified the DNA of 32 out of the 270 victims, with 14 bodies already handed over to their respective families. This crucial step in the identification process became necessary due to the severe charring of many bodies in Thursday's crash, which rendered visual identification impossible. The victims included 241 of the 242 passengers and crew members on the London-bound flight AI171, in addition to 29 individuals on the ground, including five MBBS students, who perished when the aircraft crashed into the nearby Medical College campus.

Among those identified is former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, whose DNA was matched around 11:10 AM on Sunday, and his body was subsequently handed over to his family at 1 AM. The identified victims largely hail from districts across Gujarat and Rajasthan, reflecting the passenger manifest and the impact zone. Teams comprising officials from local administration, police, and grief counselors have been formed to coordinate with the victims' families, ensuring a dignified process for receiving the remains of their loved ones.

The painstaking process of DNA matching is ongoing, with forensic experts working tirelessly to identify all victims. Efforts are also being made to assist families of foreign nationals who were on board the flight. This systematic approach aims to provide closure to the grieving families and acknowledge the full extent of the tragedy. One passenger miraculously survived the catastrophic incident, which saw the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner come down moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, erupting in flames.