Ahmedabad — The air outside Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital was thick with grief and silent despair. Dozens of families, their faces lined with exhaustion and heartbreak, sat waiting — some clutching photographs of loved ones, others silently scrolling through memories on their phones. They had all come for one unimaginable task: to give DNA samples in hopes of identifying family members lost in the Air India Ahmedabad plane crash.
Inside, the mood was equally somber. Forensic teams worked tirelessly in the autopsy rooms, sifting through charred remains, matching dental records, and painstakingly trying to restore names to bodies. Each step brought families one step closer to either closure or heartbreak. The task stretched through the night, underscoring the depth of the tragedy.
Auditorium Turns Into a Waiting Room of Grief
The B.J. Medical College auditorium, normally bustling with academic activity, had turned into a somber waiting room. The only sounds that echoed were muffled sobs and the murmurs of volunteers trying to console the inconsolable. Many families had rushed in from distant parts of India, now sitting on uncomfortable wooden benches, holding onto the fragile hope that their loved ones might be identified soon.
Who Were the Victims?
Passengers aboard the ill-fated flight came from different walks of life. Some were returning to the UK after visiting their families in India, others were foreign nationals heading back after brief vacations. Among the victims was Gujarat’s former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was on his way to London to reunite with his wife and daughter.
One story among many was that of Prakash Chandra Menariya, a 45-year-old cook from London originally from Rajasthan’s Udaipur district. He had come to India to mourn the passing of his father. “His son gave the DNA sample today,” shared Prakash Mehta, his brother-in-law, visibly shaken by the loss. Menariya had been living in London for over 20 years, visiting his family in Rohida at least once every year.
Another heart-wrenching tale was of 26-year-old newlywed Ankita Patel, who had boarded the flight with dreams of reuniting with her husband in the UK. Married just last December, they had spent merely 12 days together before he left for work. After months of visa processing, she finally boarded the plane — only to meet tragedy mid-air. “We had not even reached halfway to the UK when we heard the devastating news and rushed back,” said her sister-in-law Gayatri Patel.
A Scene of Silent Resilience
Many grieving relatives chose not to speak to the media, overwhelmed by sorrow. They were assisted by volunteers from RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and various NGOs, helping with paperwork, coordination, and emotional support.
Official Updates from Air India
As per Air India’s statement, the aircraft was carrying 242 people, including crew members. Tragically, 241 have been confirmed dead. There is just one survivor, identified as Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, currently undergoing treatment.
Among the passengers were 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian. Authorities are still working to confirm the final casualty list, and DNA testing remains the only hope for families seeking closure.
The Road Ahead
As DNA matching progresses, families remain in a painful limbo, clinging to the hope that scientific certainty will bring closure to their heartbreak. The tragedy has not only scarred the city of Ahmedabad but has also sent ripples of grief across continents, uniting strangers in shared sorrow.
Ahmedabad flight crash: Follow LIVE updates on June 14, 2025
World Blood Donor Day: Camps in India Spark Hope
[…] Air India Ahmedabad Crash: Families Provide DNA Samples for Victim Identification […]