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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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
