The death toll from the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad has risen to 270 as of Saturday, making it the deadliest aviation disaster globally in over a decade. Families of the victims are growing increasingly distressed as delays in identifying and handing over charred bodies prolong their grief and confusion.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew en route to Britain’s Gatwick Airport, crashed just seconds after take-off on Thursday. The aircraft lost altitude rapidly and erupted into a fireball upon striking buildings below, including the hostel of B.J. Medical College. Of all those on board, only one person miraculously survived.
Dr. Dhaval Gameti, president of the Junior Doctors Association at B.J. Medical College, confirmed the recovery of at least 270 bodies from the crash site. Due to the severity of the fire, most bodies were badly charred, making identification extremely challenging.
Authorities are relying on dental records and DNA profiling to identify victims. Forensic teams, working around the clock, are collecting dental samples to cross-match with existing medical and radiographic records. Dr. Jaishankar Pillai, a forensic dentist, reported that dental records for 135 of the charred victims have already been gathered for matching.
Meanwhile, heartbroken families continue to wait outside hospitals and mortuaries, desperate for answers. Rafiq Abdul Hafiz Memon, who lost four relatives in the crash, expressed his anguish: “We have lost our children. We don’t understand anything. Please help us get information. Tell us when they will release the bodies.”
Another grieving father, awaiting the body of his son Harshad Patel, was told that DNA profiling would take up to 72 hours. “Authorities are trying to help,” he said, “but our patience is running out.”
The incident has cast a dark shadow over Air India, which has been undergoing a restructuring process under the Tata Group since 2022. While investigations are ongoing, preliminary inquiries are focusing on possible mechanical failures, including issues with engine thrust, open landing gear, and flap settings during take-off.
Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran stated that the company is fully committed to understanding what went wrong, but added, “We don’t know right now.”
As the investigation unfolds, families of the deceased continue to grapple with a harrowing wait for closure, hoping that answers—and their loved ones—will be returned to them soon.
