Ahmedabad plane crash: Ex-CM Vijay Rupani’s body identified, probe gathers pace

The mortal remains of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani have been identified through DNA test, officials said on Sunday, as investigations into the June 12 Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad intensified.

Advertisement

Rupani is among the 270 people who perished in what is now regarded as India’s worst aviation disaster in three decades.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel personally visited Rupani’s residence in Rajkot to inform the family.

“The state will fully support the final rites,” Health Minister Rushikesh Patel told reporters outside BJ Medical College mortuary, where identification efforts are ongoing.

So far, DNA analysis has confirmed the identities of 42 victims.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Rameshbhai Sanghavi said that teams working through the night have matched 22 additional samples since Friday night. “From 9 pm to 1 pm today, we’ve made significant progress. These are emotionally and technically challenging hours for our teams,” he said.

All but one of the 242 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 787-8 (AI171) and another 29 persons, including five MBBS students, on the ground were killed in the plane crash on Thursday.

The London-bound aircraft came down moments after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport before falling inside the nearby campus of the medical college in Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad and going up in flames.

The high-impact crash and subsequent fire left many bodies unrecognisable, making DNA matching the only reliable method of identification.

“Each release of remains happens only after confirmation to prevent any errors. The process is being conducted with scientific precision and utmost sensitivity,” said Dr Rajneesh Patel, Additional Superintendent at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad.

Among the identified victims, 14 bodies have been handed over to their families. The deceased include residents of Ahmedabad (4), Vadodara (2), Mehsana (4), and one each from Kheda, Aravalli, Botad, and Udaipur.

To support the bereaved families, the Gujarat government has deployed over 230 dedicated response teams, each comprising a senior administrator, a police officer, and a trained counsellor. These teams are tasked with providing emotional, logistical, and procedural assistance throughout the aftermath.

Meanwhile, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in coordination with central and state agencies, continues to probe the cause of the crash.

The Central Government on Saturday has also set up a high-level multi-disciplinary panel to ascertain the “root cause” of the plane crash and assess any contributing factors, including mechanical failure, human error and regulatory compliances. The panel, headed by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, was mandated to give its report in three months.

Search and evidence recovery operations remain ongoing at the site, as authorities work to uncover the circumstances behind this national tragedy.