Six grieving families stepped once more through the gates of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on Thursday. In their hands, another set of remains. These were recovered weeks after the Air India AI-171 crash, which ripped through the Meghaninagar area on 12 June.
DNA tests confirmed the fragments belonged to loved ones already laid to rest. Some families will now perform a second funeral, an unusual step but one they accept.
AI-171 crash that claimed 260 lives
The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had taken off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport but never left the city skies. It smashed into the hostel complex of BJ Medical College, flattening parts of Meghaninagar and taking 260 lives in total.
Gujarat’s health department confirmed 229 passengers and 12 crew were on board. Nineteen people on the ground were killed too. All remains went for DNA tests to match them to waiting families.
Consent and DNA matching
In the days after the crash, families received a form. Sources told Times of India that the form gave the hospital permission to carry out last rites if more remains surfaced.
“The form sought permission to carry out the last rites of remains that may be found during further clearing of the spot or during medical analysis,” an official told TOI.
Families from Anand, Nadiad and Ahmedabad asked the hospital to inform them if more fragments matched their kin. For them, this second visit was expected, yet painful.
“It is rare for the same person to have more than one funeral, but in this case the families have the DNA match and certificate of handover of the mortal remains. Thus, there will be no issue even if there is more than one funeral for the remains,” an official said.
Painful fragments, small closure
New sets of remains are smaller than those found first. “Some have part of the body, whereas some have one or more bones. Due to the nature of the crash, it is possible that victims’ bodies underwent intense distress that may have caused fragmentation,” an official associated with the process explained to TOI.
Out of 10 other victims, families of nine have allowed the hospital to handle any more remains. Only one family’s response is still pending.
More remains may yet be found as teams clear the last parts of the wreckage. Families wait for phone calls they wish would never come. Some hope this second farewell will bring peace.
For a few, grief now comes twice. But so does a sense of duty — to do right by those who never came home.
(With inputs from TOI)
DNA tests confirmed the fragments belonged to loved ones already laid to rest. Some families will now perform a second funeral, an unusual step but one they accept.
AI-171 crash that claimed 260 lives
The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had taken off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport but never left the city skies. It smashed into the hostel complex of BJ Medical College, flattening parts of Meghaninagar and taking 260 lives in total.
Gujarat’s health department confirmed 229 passengers and 12 crew were on board. Nineteen people on the ground were killed too. All remains went for DNA tests to match them to waiting families.
Consent and DNA matching
In the days after the crash, families received a form. Sources told Times of India that the form gave the hospital permission to carry out last rites if more remains surfaced.
“The form sought permission to carry out the last rites of remains that may be found during further clearing of the spot or during medical analysis,” an official told TOI.
Families from Anand, Nadiad and Ahmedabad asked the hospital to inform them if more fragments matched their kin. For them, this second visit was expected, yet painful.
“It is rare for the same person to have more than one funeral, but in this case the families have the DNA match and certificate of handover of the mortal remains. Thus, there will be no issue even if there is more than one funeral for the remains,” an official said.
Painful fragments, small closure
New sets of remains are smaller than those found first. “Some have part of the body, whereas some have one or more bones. Due to the nature of the crash, it is possible that victims’ bodies underwent intense distress that may have caused fragmentation,” an official associated with the process explained to TOI.
Out of 10 other victims, families of nine have allowed the hospital to handle any more remains. Only one family’s response is still pending.
More remains may yet be found as teams clear the last parts of the wreckage. Families wait for phone calls they wish would never come. Some hope this second farewell will bring peace.
For a few, grief now comes twice. But so does a sense of duty — to do right by those who never came home.
(With inputs from TOI)
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