Ahmedabad, June 17: Five days after an Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad claimed 270 lives, 162 victims have so far been identified through DNA matching and 120 bodies handed over to their families, a Gujarat minister said on Tuesday.
Authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of the victims as many bodies were charred beyond recognition or badly damaged in the deadly June 12 crash.
“Till 3.30 pm on Tuesday, DNA samples of 162 crash victims had been successfully matched, and 120 bodies handed over to the respective families. Remaining mortal remains will be released soon (after identification),” Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi said in a statement.
Medical Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Rakesh Joshi earlier expressed hope that the DNA profiling of all the victims will be completed by either Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.
The state government had earlier stated that samples of 250 victims, including persons on board the ill-fated flight as well as those killed on the ground, had been collected for identification.
The process involves comparing DNA profiles from deceased victims with those of their family members to identify the deceased. This process is crucial when bodies are severely damaged or charred beyond recognition. DNA samples are collected from both the deceased and family members and matched to identify the deceased through scientific techniques.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 persons on board crashed into a medical college complex in Ahmedabad moments after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.39 pm on June 12.
While 241 persons on board the London-bound aircraft died, one passenger miraculously survived. The crash also killed 29 persons on the ground, including five MBBS students.
NALSA offers legal, mental health support to aggrieved families in Ahmedabad
The Gujarat State Legal Services Authority under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has launched an immediate legal and psychological aid initiative following the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash, a release said on Tuesday.
“In the wake of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, which has resulted in an immense loss of lives and brought untold suffering to the victims and their families, the NALSA expresses its deepest condolences and solidarity with all those affected. In this hour of grief, the legal services institutions of the country reaffirm their commitment to serving the people in times of crisis,” the release said.
The Gujarat authority launched an emergency response mechanism called “Planecrash legal support helpdesk” under the guidance of NALSA’s Patron-in-Chief, Chief Justice B R Gavai, and its Executive Chairperson Justice Surya Kant.
“This support system has been instituted to ensure accessible, immediate, and comprehensive assistance to the victims and their families. A fully functional 24×7 help desk has been set up, providing continuous legal assistance and walk-in support, and is being manned by trained legal aid lawyers who are offering guidance on essential legal matters, including assistance with documentation, identity verification, and claims,” the release added.
The aid is aimed at strengthening on-ground support and qualified advocates have been deployed to offer direct legal counselling to the aggrieved families.
“These advocates are providing real-time legal advice and helping individuals navigate the procedural aspects of loss and recovery. Recognising the emotional and psychological trauma resulting from the tragedy, dedicated trauma and grievance redressal support has also been made available,” the release said.
Psychological counselling was being provided through the victimology centre “Sangathi” for victims and their families, it added.
“All services under this initiative are being provided free of cost, in keeping with NALSA’s mission to ensure justice and support to every individual in need. For further assistance, affected victims/ families may also contact the NALSA Helpline: 15100, a toll-free number available nationwide or reach out to the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) at 6357981044 or 07922850999,” the release said. (PTI)
