- विज्ञापन -
Ahmedabad: In the aftermath of the Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad airport, Gujarat health authorities have urged families of victims to come forward for DNA testing to help identify the deceased.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, Dhananjay Dwivedi, said DNA collection facilities have been set up at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad.
Speaking to the media, Additional Chief Secretary Dwivedi said, “DNA testing arrangements have been made at Kasauti Bhavan of BJ Medical College. Families and close relatives of the flight passengers, especially their parents and children, are requested to submit their samples at the location so that the victims can be identified at the earliest.”
“If relatives of the passengers and other injured who have been brought to the Civil Hospital have to make any inquiry, Civil Hospital Ahmedabad has issued two helpline numbers – 6357373831 and 6357373841. You can contact these numbers for any help…”,” he added.
Authorities are relying on DNA testing to identify victims, as many bodies were charred beyond recognition due to the intensity of the crash.
Dwivedi confirmed that 50 injured individuals have been admitted to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, most of whom were said to be stable. “Ahmedabad Civil Hospital’s students’ hostel, staff quarters and nearby residential areas are located in the area where the plane crashed. Some residents from that area were also injured. Around 50 injured people have been brought to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. They are serious but stable and are receiving the best possible treatment,” he said.
The Gujarat government has also mobilised three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, comprising 90 personnel from Gandhinagar, to assist in rescue operations.
According to an Air India statement, the Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171, departed from Ahmedabad at 1:38 pm IST with 242 people on board, including crew.
“The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, was carrying 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, 1 Canadian national and 7 Portuguese nationals. The injured are being taken to the nearest hospitals. We have also set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information,” the airline said in a statement.
Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran confirmed the crash and expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims.
