Families of Air India crash victims express anguish over delays in recovery, identification efforts
Ahmedabad: Families of the victims of last week's devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad have voiced growing frustration over what they describe as slow and disorganised recovery and identification operations.
The crash of Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787 jet, claimed the lives of 241 people on board and several others on the ground after the aircraft plummeted into a densely populated area shortly after takeoff. Only one person aboard the aircraft survived.
According to officials, just one of the two critical flight data "black boxes" has been recovered so far. While 80 victims have been identified through DNA testing, only 33 bodies have been handed over to families. Many relatives are still awaiting confirmation of their loved ones’ identities.
Dr. Rajnish Patel, a hospital official in Ahmedabad, was quoted by Deccan Herald as saying, “We are expediting the DNA matching process to bring some closure to grieving families.”
One of the most tragic scenes unfolded at B.J. Medical College, where several students were having lunch in their hostel when the fuel-laden aircraft crashed into the premises. Among those missing is the mother of 28-year-old Payal Tushar Thakur, who worked in the college canteen. “We are poor, so no one seems to care about keeping us informed,” Payal told reporters. Deccan Herald reported her saying, “What good is compensation when we've lost our loved ones?”
Air India announced a compensation of approximately ₹24 lakh (21,000 GBP or \$28,500) to each deceased’s family and the sole survivor. Tata Sons, which owns Air India, has separately pledged an additional ₹97 lakh (85,000 GBP).
Muhammed Owess, who flew in from Australia after losing his sister-in-law in the tragedy, appreciated the efforts of authorities but acknowledged the emotional toll of waiting. “We have no choice but to wait, given the magnitude of the tragedy,” he said. Deccan Herald reported that his relative’s body is still undergoing DNA confirmation.
The Gujarat government has deployed over 855 health personnel, including 100 specialised healthcare workers, and set up trauma counselling support near the crash site. Twelve DNA teams are working in shifts to match remains with family samples. However, recovery efforts have encountered complications, including a reported instance where remains of more than one person were found in a single body bag.
Relatives have criticised the lack of timely updates. “We’ve been waiting for over 72 hours for any news,” said Rohit Patel, who lost two family members. “Everyone is asking me for updates, and I have nothing to tell them,” Deccan Herald reported him as saying.
Experts from Boeing, India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, and foreign aviation authorities have inspected the wreckage. Despite their presence, the central government has held only one official press briefing since the crash, prompting further criticism.
Ambulances have been shuttling remains to a mortuary complex near the site, where crowds of anxious families have gathered, some disillusioned with the promises of help from visiting ministers and officials.
As the identification process continues, the overall death toll remains unconfirmed. Gujarat’s Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey appealed for calm and patience, assuring families that all efforts are being made to complete identification as quickly as possible.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka Cabinet ratifies decisions on internal reservation for SCs
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Cabinet has ratified its earlier decisions on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes and approved key modifications to streamline recruitment, including withdrawal and reissue of notifications and adoption of a 400-point roster system.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil on Thursday said the Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to implementing internal reservation within the 15 per cent SC quota and expediting long-pending recruitment across departments.
"The Cabinet ratified decisions taken in earlier meetings (April 16 and April 24) and made modifications regarding reservation policies," Patil said.
He said the government will implement internal reservation within the 15 per cent quota for Scheduled Castes in specified proportions and revise recruitment notifications accordingly, with a 400-point roster to be followed.
If fewer than three roster points for SC arise in recruitment, then all 101 Scheduled Caste communities will be allowed to compete under SC general, he said.
Patil added that recruitment notifications issued without incorporating internal reservation will be withdrawn and reissued in line with the revised policy.
"If the Supreme Court approves 24 per cent reservation for SC/ST, six per cent backlog posts will be filled," he said, noting that urgent steps will be taken to fill 56,432 approved posts.
The latest decision follows the Cabinet's April 24 resolution that cleared a revised internal reservation formula within the overall 15 per cent SC quota, paving the way for long-pending government recruitment. The government had approved 5.25 per cent reservation each for the "right-hand" and "left-hand" groups, and about 4.5 per cent for other Scheduled Castes, including nomadic communities.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had then said the categorisation was worked out proportionately within the constitutional ceiling. "From tomorrow onwards, the recruitment process will begin with the issuance of notifications," he had said after the April 24 Cabinet meeting.
He also noted that the SC quota was fixed at 15 per cent and ST at three per cent in line with the 50 per cent cap laid down in the Indra Sawhney case, while pointing out that the Supreme Court had permitted internal reservation within constitutional limits.
