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.
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Here's how netizens, media outlets projected Ashwini Kumar's bomb threat as 'Lashkar-e-Jihadi'
Mumbai: Mumbai was thrown into panic late on Thursday night when police received a WhatsApp message warning of a large-scale terror attack during the Ganesh festival. The message, written in the name of a jihadi group called “Lashkar-e-Jihadi,” claimed that 14 Pakistani terrorists had entered Mumbai with 400 kilograms of RDX loaded in 34 vehicles.
It warned of blasts that could kill as many as one crore people. Authorities immediately declared a high alert, and the case was handed over to the Crime Branch while the Anti-Terrorism Squad and other security agencies were put on standby.
Within hours, the threat made national headlines. Television channels and online portals reported the possibility of a terror strike, repeatedly linking the message to Pakistan-based groups.
The incident was projected as yet another attempt to destabilize Mumbai, and the supposed involvement of a jihadi outfit quickly gained traction across the media. However, a swift investigation by Mumbai Police traced the origin of the message to a very different source.
By Saturday, police had tracked down and arrested Ashwin Kumar Supra, a 50-year-old astrologer and Vastu consultant living in Sector 79 of Noida. Originally from Patna, Kumar admitted during interrogation that he had sent the message using the name of his former friend Firoz. In 2023, Firoz had lodged a fraud case against him at Phulwari Sharif police station in Patna, leading to Kumar’s three-month imprisonment. Seeking revenge, Kumar attempted to frame Firoz by posing as a jihadi terrorist. Police recovered his mobile phone, SIM cards, and other digital devices used in the hoax.
When the threat first came to light, social media was flooded with heated reactions. Journalist @Manju_IBNews wrote, “Another election around the corner!” while user @kv_mcu posted an aggressive comment demanding to “ban Islam and burn the Quran,” calling for mass deportations and tying the incident to culture and religion. In response, @RIMMS51979 countered sharply, saying, “Caller Name is Ashvini kumar what will you burn now.” Another user, @Valkyrie00777, questioned the credibility of the threat, pointing to contradictions in the claim that 14 terrorists had entered India with 34 bombs and 400 kilograms of RDX. Meanwhile, @Liberal51601607 remarked, “Terrorists have no religion.. Anyone..?”
Fact-checkers also weighed in. @zoo_bear (Mohammed Zubair) accused NDTV of omitting crucial context, posting: “Adani's TV hasn't mentioned that the accused Ashwini Kumar sent the bomb threat message to Mumbai police in the name of his friend Firoz to frame him.” The fact-check website Aazad Fact Check (@AazadFactCheck) published a detailed rebuttal, saying the story had quickly evolved into a propaganda tool. It noted that the supposed intelligence about “human bombs in vehicles” was technically flawed and described the entire sequence as “a pure example of Indian narrative building before a false flag operation.”
Adani's TV hasn't mentioned that the accused Ashwini Kumar sent the bomb threat message to Mumbai police in the name of his friend Firoz to frame him. https://t.co/17nZxYOrql
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) September 6, 2025
After Ashwini Kumar’s arrest, the tone of the online conversation shifted sharply. Activist @ShabnamHashmi posted, “Ashwini Kumar 50 Year Old Astrologer from Noida has been arrested for sending these threats in the name of a Muslim. This is how Sangh sleeper cells are spreading hatred. Stop the Hate factory! Vote Out the Vote Chori Gang.” Journalist @indscribe (Shams Ur Rehman Alavi) observed that newspapers splashed the initial threat on front pages but buried the arrest details inside. “When the guy gets caught, the same newspapers don't publish his photo, relegate it to page 14 or reduce it to a single column… Interest gone after ‘name’ found,” he wrote.
Ashwini Kumar 50 Year Old Astrologer from Noida has been arrested for sending these threats in the name of a Muslim. This is how Sangh sleeper cells are spreading hatred
— Shabnam Hashmi (@ShabnamHashmi) September 6, 2025
Stop the Hate factory !
Vote Out the Vote Chori Gang pic.twitter.com/IzpLjWVJgu
Other users highlighted systemic and political angles. @shfique13 argued that there are now “two laws” in the country—one protecting those aligned with the government and another used to suppress truth-tellers. @SoodRajive claimed the episode was staged, alleging Kumar had been paid to frame a minority and calling it “a staged toolkit drama.” User @hussain2577 wrote sarcastically, “Such an innocent n bright person. Plzz grant him bail, Garland him, Give him BJP membership form.” Another account, @Sangliyana, remarked, “Risking his life just to frame a Muslim boy. This is what 11 years corrupting mind.” Finally, @rsbisht__ argued that Kumar’s only aim was to trap Firoz, linking it to what he described as rising hatred against Muslims in Uttar Pradesh under the Modi and Yogi administrations.
