DNA Identifications Underway in AI-171 Crash; Tata Group Extends Relief as Rescue Efforts Intensify
Ahmedabad – Four days after the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI-171, en route from Ahmedabad to London, authorities confirmed that 144 DNA samples have been successfully matched as of Tuesday noon, offering a measure of solace to grieving families.
Gujarat Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, announced the update, stating that the process is being led by a joint team from the State Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the National Forensic Sciences University, operating around the clock to identify victims.
“This is a highly sensitive and emotional task,” said a senior forensic official. “Every identification is not just a data point – it’s closure, a final answer for families living through unimaginable pain.”
Relief and Rehabilitation Efforts Intensify
At the crash site in Meghaninagar, emergency response teams continue to sift through wreckage, recovering personal effects and human remains, while ensuring dignity for the deceased and transparency with their families.
In a significant gesture, the Tata Group, which re-acquired Air India in 2022, announced an ex gratia payment of ₹1 crore to the families of each deceased passenger. Additionally, interim relief of ₹25 lakh per family — and to the sole survivor — has already been disbursed to meet urgent needs.
Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran called the tragedy,
“One of the darkest days in the Tata Group’s history,”
and pledged full coverage of medical expenses for the injured, along with support for the reconstruction of a damaged hostel at BJ Medical College.
Coordinated Ground Operations Continue
As of June 17, more than 300 firefighters, supported by 60 fire engines and 20 water bowsers, remain on-site. Reinforcements have arrived from Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, ONGC, and other neighboring jurisdictions.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), alongside CRPF, Indian Army, CISF, BSF, and Western Railway Disaster Management, is conducting systematic grid-based searches.
Specialised sniffer dogs are being used to locate human remains, while the Ahmedabad Police have also deployed animal rescue teams to manage a disturbing development — scavenging stray dogs around the crash site.
Authorities emphasized that recovery operations may take several more days, but all efforts are focused on ensuring thoroughness, compassion, and care for those affected.
