Air India plane crash: Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani’s body identified

DNA analysis has verified that former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani died in the Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, a senior government official informed on Sunday.

“His (Rupani’s) DNA sample was matched a few minutes ago,” the official said while speaking on condition of anonymity.

On June 12, shortly after takeoff, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner transporting 242 passengers and crew from Ahmedabad to London crashed into a hostel for a medical college in Meghaninagar. The calamity resulted in 241 fatalities, comprising 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, with Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, located in seat 11A, as the only survivor suffering from minor injuries.

The accident also claimed the lives of numerous medical students and others on the ground, as the aircraft erupted into a huge fireball.

Rupani, aged 68, was en route to see his daughter in London. Forensic teams are performing thorough DNA sampling at a specialized facility in Ahmedabad to identify victims. Family members of passengers, such as Rupani’s relatives, have given samples that were compared to the remains found in the wreckage. The continuous process poses difficulties because of the crash’s severity, demanding careful examination for precise identification. Rupani’s last ceremonies will take place in his native town of Rajkot.

Air India and Tata Group declared a compensation of ₹1 crore for the families of victims along with ₹25 lakh as interim payments. In Rajkot, Rupani’s place of origin, arrangements for his last ceremonies are in progress.

Dr. Rajnish Patel, medical superintendent of Civil Hospital, informed reporters today that 32 DNAs have been identified to date, and 14 bodies have been returned to their respective families.