Ex-CM Vijay Rupani Cremation: Gujarat Govt Announces 1-Day State Mourning

The Gujarat government has declared a one-day state mourning on Monday to honour former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who tragically died in an Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad three days ago. His funeral is scheduled for Monday in Rajkot. The national flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings, and no official entertainment will take place during the mourning period.

DNA Testing and Identification

Earlier, authorities identified Rupani's body through DNA testing and handed over his remains to his family. Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi confirmed that DNA tests identified 86 victims of the crash. Due to severe damage or burns, many bodies required DNA testing for identification. The process is ongoing to establish identities.

The Air India Flight 171, bound for London from Ahmedabad, crashed into a hostel at BJ Medical College shortly after takeoff. The flight carried 242 individuals, including 230 passengers, 10 crew members, and two pilots. Tragically, 270 people have died so far, including those on the ground.

Survivor and Investigation

Remarkably, one passenger survived the crash. An Indian-origin British national seated in 11A was hospitalised with injuries. While 241 passengers perished, the tragedy also claimed the lives of 29 people on the ground. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) retrieved the plane's black box 28 hours post-crash.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu stated that this orange device found near the tail would aid in investigating the incident. Meanwhile, Air India expressed its condolences over the loss of lives aboard Flight AI171 and is assisting affected families.

Air India's Response

Air India has contacted relatives of all passengers and crew members to offer condolences and support. Over 400 family members have arrived in Ahmedabad and are receiving assistance from Air India's teams on-site. Each affected family has been assigned a caregiver for support.

The airline collaborates with Tata Group companies to provide comprehensive assistance to families of victims as their top priority. They are working closely with authorities to hand over remains to families and assist with repatriation efforts where needed.