Gujarat declares 1 day state mourning for former CM Vijay Rupani

The state of Gujarat will observe a one-day state mourning on Monday for former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who tragically died in the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash three days ago. Rupani's funeral is scheduled to be held in Rajkot on Monday, following the identification of his body through DNA testing earlier today. As a mark of respect, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings across the state, and no official entertainment will be held on the day of mourning.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi confirmed that the bodies of 86 individuals killed in the devastating crash have now been identified through DNA matching. The process of DNA testing is ongoing for other victims, a necessary step due to many bodies being severely charred or damaged beyond recognition. To facilitate this arduous task, at least 230 teams have been formed to coordinate with the victims' families, providing support and assistance during this difficult time.

The London-bound Air India Flight 171, carrying 242 people (230 passengers, 10 crew members, and two pilots), crashed into a resident doctors' hostel of BJ Medical College shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon. The catastrophic incident resulted in 241 fatalities on board and an additional 29 on the ground, pushing the total death toll to 270. Former CM Rupani was on the flight, traveling to London to meet his daughter. One passenger, an Indian-origin British national, miraculously survived the crash and is currently hospitalized. Air India has expressed profound grief, established contact with all next of kin, and assigned caregivers to affected families, assisting with identification, movement of remains, and repatriation efforts. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has recovered the black box, which is crucial for the ongoing investigation into the cause of the tragedy.