DNA Confirms Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani Among Victims of Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash
The Gujarat government has officially confirmed that former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among the victims of the tragic Air India plane crash that occurred in Ahmedabad on June 12. The confirmation came after DNA testing of the recovered remains matched with samples provided by his family members.
On Sunday morning, Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi informed the media that the DNA sample taken from the mortal remains suspected to be Rupani’s was positively identified at 11:10 AM. “The sample has conclusively matched with that of his family,” Sanghvi said during a press briefing. This announcement ends days of uncertainty regarding the identification of Rupani, whose body was severely charred in the fiery crash, making visual recognition impossible.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel personally met with the grieving family of Vijay Rupani following the confirmation. He conveyed the news and extended condolences on behalf of the state government. Health Minister Rushikesh Patel also confirmed the DNA identification and expressed the administration’s commitment to supporting Rupani’s family during this tragic time.
Vijay Rupani, who served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021, was among the 241 passengers on board the ill-fated Air India flight AI171. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was headed to London Gatwick Airport and crashed within minutes of taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.
In total, 242 individuals were on board the aircraft, including passengers and crew. All but one person perished in the accident, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history. In addition to those aboard the aircraft, 29 people on the ground lost their lives when the plane plummeted into the premises of B.J. Medical College in the Meghaninagar area. Among the ground victims were five MBBS students residing in the hostel on campus.
The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, bursting into flames upon impact. Eyewitnesses reported a loud explosion and a massive fireball as the plane descended rapidly and collided with buildings near the medical college. Emergency responders and rescue teams arrived quickly at the scene but were met with a grim scenario of devastation and destruction.
The identification of victims has proven difficult due to the intensity of the fire and the condition of the remains. Authorities have relied heavily on DNA testing to accurately identify those who died. State and central forensic teams are continuing the painstaking process of matching DNA samples for the remaining victims.
This tragedy has sent shockwaves across the country, with leaders from all political parties expressing condolences and mourning the loss of former Chief Minister Rupani and other passengers. Investigations into the cause of the crash are currently underway, with a focus on potential mechanical failure, pilot error, or other operational anomalies.
As Gujarat reels from this loss, the confirmed death of Vijay Rupani marks not just the end of a prominent political life but also deepens the sorrow of a state already grieving one of its darkest days in recent memory.
