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Ground Report: Grief, Chaos At Ahmedabad Civil Hospital As Families Called To Identify Crash Victims

Massive security deployment, chaos at mortuary as families arrive to identify bodies from Air India 787 Dreamliner crash; death toll could exceed official estimates

Grief and chaos at Ahmedabads Civil Hospital
Grief and chaos at Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital Photo: Jinit Parmar
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The Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad turned into a scene of deep anguish and controlled chaos as grieving families were called in to identify the remains of their loved ones killed in the catastrophic crash of Air India flight AI171. According to officials closely involved in the response, 20 to 30 families were summoned to the hospital바카라™s mortuary complex for verification procedures.

Around 20 to 30 families have been called for body identification. They are being directed to the mortuary wing,바카라 a senior hospital official told Outlook. The verification process has been fraught with emotional trauma, as most bodies are charred and dismembered beyond recognition.

To manage the crowd and maintain order, more than 100 police personnel were deployed at the Civil Hospital and surrounding areas. Authorities anticipate growing public unrest as more details about the tragedy emerge.

Black Box Recovered, Questions Linger

Amid the rubble of the crashed medical college hostel, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have retrieved the aircraft's black box, a crucial component that records cockpit conversations and flight data, which may shed light on the cause of the disaster.

Early reports claimed five to ten bodies were recovered from the hostel building, which housed medical students. However, conflicting accounts from ground personnel suggest the toll may be significantly higher. 바카라œWe have found several bodies, many in pieces. The death count from the hostel alone is well over ten,바카라 an NDRF official told Outlook on condition of anonymity. Some estimates place the hostel toll closer to 50.

How The Crash Unfolded

The Air India Dreamliner, bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport. At approximately 1:38 PM, just minutes into its flight, the aircraft lost altitude and crashed into the residential hostel for doctors, creating a fiery explosion. Visuals from the site show dining tables still set with food, now surrounded by smouldering debris and structural wreckage.

A mayday call was issued by the pilot, but communication abruptly ceased. Eyewitness videos show the plane flying unusually low before plunging into the hostel compound and erupting in flames. The aircraft, fully loaded with fuel for its long-haul journey, disintegrated on impact.

Flight AI171 was carrying 242 people바카라”169 Indian nationals, 53 British, 7 Portuguese, 1 Canadian, and 12 crew members. As of Thursday evening, officials have confirmed 241 fatalities. Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, whose presence on the flight was confirmed by state authorities.

The tragedy has plunged Ahmedabad and the nation into mourning, while rescue workers and authorities continue to comb through the wreckage in search of answers and closure.

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