Over a week after the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that claimed 270 lives, Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel confirmed on Friday that 220 victims have been identified through DNA testing. Of those, the bodies of 202 victims have been handed over to their families.
The tragic incident occurred on June 12, when Air India flight AI-171, en route to London with 242 passengers and crew, crashed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft plummeted into a medical complex in the Meghaninagar area, killing all but one on board and 29 people on the ground.
Due to the severe burns and mutilation of several bodies, authorities relied on DNA matching to confirm identities. Patel stated that 160 of the identified victims were Indian nationals, including 151 passengers. Additionally, seven were Portuguese, 34 British, and one Canadian.
Of the 202 bodies returned, 15 were flown to their respective destinations, while 187 were transported by road. DNA samples were collected from 250 individuals, encompassing both passengers and ground casualties, as the identification process continues.
