Air India tragedy: Extreme temperature during crash complicating DNA identification process of victims, says HP Sanghvi

The process of DNA identification of victims of the deadly Air India tragedy that claimed over 240 deaths is facing complications due to the extreme temperatures during the crash.

According to HP Sanghvi, Director of the Directorate of Forensic Sciences, Gandhinagar, the extreme temperatures from the crash have complicated the process, but efforts are underway to ensure swift and accurate identification.

The reason was also given by Union home minister Amit Shah, who rushed to Ahmedabad on hearing the news of the plane crash. The Home Minister said that the aircraft carried about 1.25 lakh litres of fuel, and the temperature had increased to an extent where there was no chance of saving lives.


Stating that there was one survivor in the crash whom he met at the hospital, Shah said that authorities will provide the final death toll after conducting DNA sampling.

He said that the aviation department began an investigation into the plane crash, and the Union civil aviation minister issued instructions to complete the inquiry at the earliest.

Boeing inspection underway
Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Saturday informed that eight Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft have already undergone inspection following the fatal crash of an Air India 787 in Ahmedabad.

The government is now moving to carry out a comprehensive surveillance of all 34 Dreamliner aircraft currently operating in the Indian fleet.

"From the DCGA, we have also given an order to do an extended surveillance for the 787 planes. There are 34 in our Indian aircraft fleet today. I believe that eight have already been inspected and with immediate urgency, all of them are going to be done," Naidu said during a press conference.

"The ministry is taking utmost seriousness of the incident," he said during the media briefing. "The accident that has happened near Ahemdabad airport shook the entire nation and my deepest condolences to the families," he added.

Earlier in the day, the union minister chaired a high-level meeting at the Civil Aviation Ministry’s office at 10:30 am to review and reassess aviation safety measures in the wake of Thursday’s crash. The meeting was attended by top officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), and other key stakeholders.