A London-bound Air India passenger plane carrying 242 people, including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew members, crashed in the Meghani Nagar area near Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat. Of the passengers, 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian, and 7 Portuguese nationals were onboard flight number AI-171, which was operating from Ahmedabad to London. In this tragic incident, more than 260 people lost their lives (at the time of reporting), including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. One survivor with minor injuries has been found. He has been identified as Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, a British national. The injured were taken to the nearest hospitals.
Fire and police teams were rushed to the site immediately after receiving the alert. Three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, comprising 90 personnel, were immediately deployed from Gandhinagar to the crash site. Three more NDRF teams were moved from Vadodara. The injured were shifted to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital for treatment. Further investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.
President Droupadi Murmu expressed grief over the tragic plane crash. In a social media post, the President said that it is a heart-rending disaster and her thoughts and prayers are with the affected people. The President added that the nation stands with them in this hour of indescribable grief.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the flight crash as heartbreaking beyond words. Modi said that he is in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected. His thoughts are with everyone affected during this tragic hour.
The Prime Minister spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu regarding the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad. He took stock of the situation. PM Modi also directed them to ensure that all possible assistance is extended immediately to those affected by the air mishap. Naidu added that all relevant agencies are on high alert and coordinated efforts are underway. He said his ministry is closely monitoring the situation and has directed all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action.
RSS Swayamsevaks step up in times of crisis
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has always stepped up its efforts during any calamity or natural disasters and stood with the society to tide through the crisis. True to this enduring commitment, RSS swayamsevaks have once again come forward to offer their services following the tragic Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad. In the aftermath of the plane crash, RSS swayamsevaks have actively engaged in relief and support work at Civil Hospital, Karnavati, Gujarat, assisting medical teams, guiding victims’ families, and ensuring smooth coordination on the ground. As always, the RSS has stood by its motto of selfless service, providing timely support in difficult times.
The service work is carried out by swayamsevaks in two phases, with 175 swayamsevaks in each phase:
- Rescue operations at the crash site
- Traffic management
- Assistance in the post-mortem room
- Support in DNA sample collection
- Blood donation
- Arrangement of tea, water, food for over 2,000 people
- Food distribution in association with Kalupur Swaminarayan Mandir
On the other hand, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to the Gujarat Chief Minister and State Home Minister about the incident.
Tata Group on June 12 announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of each person who lost their life in the incident. The ill-fated London-bound flight, carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members, crashed into the doctors’ hostel at BJ Medical College, killing over 200 people. Among the passengers, at least 61 were foreign nationals, according to Air India. Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran expressed grief over the disaster in a statement shared via social media. “We are deeply anguished by the tragic event involving Air India Flight 171. No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones, and with those who have been injured,” he said.
The Tata Group also announced it will bear the full medical expenses of the injured and ensure they receive the best possible care. Furthermore, the company pledged support for rebuilding the BJ Medical College doctors’ hostel, into which the aircraft crashed while students were having lunch in the mess hall. “Additionally, we will provide support in building up of the BJ Medical hostel. We remain steadfast in standing with the affected families and communities during this unimaginable time,” the statement added. According to the FAIMA Doctors Association, the wife of a resident doctor was confirmed dead, while four to five MBBS students and three to four relatives of doctors remain missing. Two to three students are currently in intensive care, though at least 50 others who were hospitalised are reported to be in stable condition.
