Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Ex-Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani DNA Matches, Last Rites in Rajkot
Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani has been confirmed among the deceased in the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad, following a DNA match conducted on remains recovered from the crash site. The confirmation was announced by Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Sunday morning after the DNA report was received at 11.10 am.
Rupani’s last rites will be conducted in Rajkot, his hometown. State Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel personally visited Rupani’s residence to inform the family and assured full government support for the final rites.
“The CM conveyed the DNA confirmation and assured all necessary help. The family will decide on the timing for receiving the mortal remains,” Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel told reporters.
Rupani was among the 241 passengers aboard Air India Flight AI-171, which crashed just seconds after takeoff on Thursday afternoon while en route from Ahmedabad to London. Only one passenger, a British national, survived the accident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Gujarat a day after the crash and met with the grieving family, offering condolences and state support.
The aircraft crashed into a building on the BJ Medical College campus in Meghaninagar, roughly a kilometre from the runway. The crash triggered a fireball that engulfed the structure, causing additional casualties, including several MBBS students housed in the hostel. Many bodies were charred beyond recognition, requiring DNA testing for identification.
Authorities have confirmed that the aircraft’s black box has been recovered, and decoding is underway to determine the exact cause of the crash. The government has also formed a high-level committee to investigate the incident and review aviation safety protocols.
The death of Vijay Rupani, a prominent BJP leader and former chief minister from 2016 to 2021, has triggered an outpouring of grief across Gujarat’s political and public spheres. Political leaders across party lines expressed shock and paid tribute to Rupani’s contributions to the state.
