In a heart-wrenching development following the June 12 Air India tragedy, the body of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has been identified through DNA testing. The crash, which has now been termed India’s worst air disaster in over thirty years, claimed the lives of 241 individuals, leaving only one survivor from the total 242 passengers and crew aboard the ill-fated Boeing 787-8 (AI171). The aircraft, bound for London, crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, plummeting into the B.J. Medical College campus in Meghaninagar and bursting into flames.
Officials confirmed on Sunday that Vijay Rupani’s remains matched with DNA samples from his family at 11:10 a.m. Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi shared this solemn update in Gandhinagar, stating that the identification brought some closure to Rupani’s grieving family. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel personally met Rupani’s family to inform them of the DNA confirmation, accompanied by Health Minister Rushikesh Patel.
As of now, 32 victims have been successfully identified through DNA profiling, and the remains of 14 have been handed over to their families. Victims hailed from various districts, including Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Vadodara, Mehsana, Kheda, and Botad. Authorities continue the painstaking process of identification, with around 270 bodies transported to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, according to Dr. Dhaval Gameti, president of the Junior Doctors Association at B.J. Medical College.
The crash’s investigation is gaining momentum under the leadership of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), supported by multiple central and state agencies. A vital breakthrough occurred when the black box was recovered from the tail end of the aircraft, which was found lodged inside the medical college’s hostel building. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Commissioner Banchha Nidhi Pani highlighted the swift response of AMC in deploying cranes, engineers, and laborers to assist the AAIB in recovering the flight data recorder.
City Police Commissioner G.S. Malik also visited the crash site to oversee the ongoing probe. Meanwhile, the central government has formed a high-level multidisciplinary committee, chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, to determine the root cause of the tragedy. The panel, which includes experts in aviation safety, engineering, and regulatory compliance, has been given a three-month window to submit its report.
Authorities have also mobilized 230 dedicated teams to support the bereaved families and streamline communication during this crisis. The scope of the investigation includes evaluating possible mechanical failures, human error, and lapses in regulatory protocols.
The nation continues to mourn the loss of over two hundred lives in this catastrophic event, including political leaders, medical students, and civilians. As the investigation unfolds, families await answers and accountability while clinging to memories of those they lost in one of India’s most devastating aviation disasters.