For Mistry Jignesh, the past 72 hours have stretched into an unbearable eternity. Since Thursday evening, he and his family have been at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, desperately seeking information about his 22-year-old niece, one of the 242 passengers who lost their lives in the catastrophic Air India plane crash earlier that day. Initially told that DNA matching could be completed within 72 hours, Mr. Jignesh was informed on Saturday that the process might take longer as the search for remains from the crash site continues. “When people are still missing, how can they possibly complete the DNA process by tomorrow? What if my niece’s remains have not even been found? The wait is killing us,” he lamented. Although officials have not confirmed his claims, both a fire department officer and a police official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that the recovery of passenger remains is still ongoing. Rajnish Patel, an additional superintendent at the hospital, revealed that 11 victims have been identified through DNA samples and their families have been notified.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, destined for Gatwick Airport in London, tragically crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad’s main airport, resulting in India’s deadliest aviation disaster to date. Only one of the 242 individuals onboard survived, while at least eight others perished when the aircraft struck a medical college hostel, falling in a heavily populated residential area near the airport. In response, the Indian government has initiated a high-level investigation and ordered inspections of all Boeing 787s operated by domestic carriers. While the cause of the crash remains undetermined, India’s aviation authority is exploring every potential factor and has enlisted international aviation experts for assistance.
As doctors at the hospital strive to finalize DNA testing for victims, families endure excruciating moments as they await news. The identification process has proven exceptionally difficult, with many remains suffering extensive damage due to the inferno. “There is no scope for mistakes here – we have to ensure that every family receives the right body,” asserted HP Sanghvi, director of the Directorate of Forensic Sciences in Gandhinagar. He noted that the complexity of the situation is compounded by the possibility of DNA samples being compromised from the intense heat of the fire. Forensic dentist Jaishankar Pillai mentioned that his team is working to retrieve dental records from the charred remains, which could potentially provide the necessary DNA.
The situation is overwhelmingly painful for the families, many of whom eschew media contact, preferring to return home with “whatever is left of their loved ones.” A distressed woman waiting outside the autopsy room with three family members expressed, “We are in no condition to say anything. Words fail us right now,” before hurriedly exiting to her vehicle.
Meanwhile, officials at BJ Medical College have begun vacating several wards of the hostel that was impacted. Four wards, including the canteen where the crash occurred, have been fully cleared. However, students residing in neighboring sections of the hostel are also beginning to leave. A fellow student reported, “In one of the wards, there are just three people left – everyone else has gone back to their homes for now. They will leave soon too, but until then, they are sitting there, all alone, haunted by the memory of what has happened.”
Across the city of more than seven million, many individuals are grappling with the tragedy. Kartik Kalawadia last heard from his brother Mahesh roughly 30 minutes before the crash. During a phone call, Mahesh reassured his wife, saying, “I am coming home,” but that was the last communication they had. A music producer in the Gujarati film industry, Mahesh was returning home from work when the plane crashed into nearby buildings. Mr. Kalawadia recounted that they have filed a police report and visited the Civil Hospital numerous times but have yet to find any trace of his brother. “The hospital told us they have no record of my brother. We also tried tracing his scooter, but nothing came of that either,” he said. “It’s like he vanished into thin air.”