The casualty count from the tragic Air India plane crash has risen to 270, as families grow increasingly frustrated with the delays in receiving the bodies of their loved ones in Ahmedabad, a city in western India.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 individuals en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, began to lose altitude mere seconds after takeoff on Thursday, resulting in a catastrophic fireball upon impact with nearby buildings. This incident marks the deadliest aviation disaster globally in a decade.
According to the president of the Junior Doctors Association at B.J. Medical College, at least 270 bodies have been recovered from the crash site.
Out of the 242 passengers and crew, only one survived while others tragically perished as the aircraft collided with the medical college’s hostel during its descent.
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The chairman of Tata expressed a desire to comprehend the circumstances surrounding the incident, stating, “we don’t know right now.”
Air India and the Indian government are examining various factors related to the crash, including potential issues with engine thrust, flaps, and the reasons the landing gear remained extended during takeoff and subsequent descent.
Numerous anxious family members have been congregating outside an Ahmedabad hospital, awaiting the retrieval of bodies of their loved ones who lost their lives in the crash, as medical professionals worked diligently to collect dental samples for identification checks and DNA profiling.
Rafiq Abdul Hafiz Memon, who lost four family members in the accident, indicated that he has received no information from officials and is feeling “very hassled.”
Rafiq Abdul Hafiz Memon stated he was not getting answers from authorities
“We have lost our children… we are not understanding anything. Please assist us in obtaining information about our children. Inform us when their bodies will be released,” he pleaded.
Another grieving father was distressed over the inability to secure the body of his son, Harshad Patel, explaining that he was informed by officials it would take 72 hours for DNA profiling. “The authorities are trying to assist, but our patience is wearing thin,” he said.
Most bodies recovered from the crash were severely burned, and officials are utilizing dental samples for identification processes.
Forensic dentist Jaishankar Pillai informed reporters that they have secured dental records for 135 victims, which can be matched with reference to prior dental charts, radiographs, or other documentation.
