In the aftermath of the devastating Air India Flight 171 crash, police officials have confirmed that 265 bodies have been brought to the City Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, even though the official death toll is yet to be formally released.
The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew members, crashed shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, colliding with the residential quarters of BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital in the Meghaninagar area. The impact caused an inferno that engulfed the aircraft, reducing it to charred wreckage within minutes.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanan Desai told reporters, “265 bodies have reached the hospital as per the message we received.” However, Desai noted that this number may not represent the final confirmed death toll, as authorities are conducting DNA testing and identification procedures before releasing an official count.
Extreme Temperatures Made Survival Unlikely
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the crash site and reviewed the ongoing rescue and recovery operations, said the extremely high temperature inside the aircraft—caused by burning aviation fuel—left “no chance that anyone could be saved.” Shah added that the official death count would only be declared after forensic teams completed their analysis and identified the victims through DNA testing.
One Survivor
Amid the tragedy, there was one reported survivor—Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national who was seated in 11A. He recounted the horrifying experience, saying that the aircraft experienced trouble just 30 seconds after takeoff. He was later pulled from the wreckage and taken to hospital with chest and limb injuries.
Largest Aviation Tragedy in Recent Years
The crash is being called one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India in recent memory. Rescue teams, firefighters, and disaster response units were deployed in large numbers to manage the aftermath, retrieve bodies, and secure the area.
Air India, in its statement, confirmed the nationalities of those on board: 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is currently leading the probe into the incident, with technical support expected from aircraft manufacturer Boeing. Both domestic and international agencies are working in coordination to determine the cause of the crash.
As families gather outside the hospital and at the airport, waiting for news of their loved ones, the city of Ahmedabad mourns a loss too large to comprehend.
Sources By Agencies