Ahmedabad, June 15 -- Authorities have confirmed the identity of 47 individuals killed in Thursday's devastating crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, using DNA analysis due to the condition of the remains. Among those identified is former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, officials said on Sunday.

Rupani was one of the 242 people on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that was headed to London when it crashed into a medical college complex shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 PM. The incident has so far claimed 270 lives, including 29 people on the ground, among them five medical students.

Additional Civil Superintendent Dr Rajnish Patel confirmed that 24 of the identified bodies have been returned to families. "These deceased were from Rajasthan and different parts of Gujarat. Fourteen of them belonged to areas including Udaipur, Vadodara, Kheda, Mehsana, Ahmedabad, and Botad," he said during a media briefing.

Dr Patel, who is also a professor at B J Medical College, said that of the 51 people injured in the crash, 38 have been discharged from hospitals, while 13 are still receiving treatment.

Former Chief Minister Rupani's body is among those identified through DNA testing, prompting the Gujarat government to declare a day of state mourning on Monday. A funeral procession is scheduled to take place in Rajkot later in the evening.

Dr Dhaval Gameti, president of the Junior Doctors' Association at BJ Medical College, said that about 270 bodies were brought to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital from the site of the crash. Many of the victims' bodies were badly charred or mutilated, necessitating DNA matching.

State Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey said the families of nearly all the deceased have been contacted. "Only three families have yet to provide DNA samples, and they are expected to arrive from abroad tomorrow. We are also providing death certificates along with the remains to ensure families face no procedural hurdles," he told reporters.

P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visited the hospital and the crash site on Sunday. He was briefed by state officials and spoke to some of the injured.

"Everybody is sad. It is our duty to share grief and express our feelings for the victims," Mishra told reporters outside the Civil Hospital morgue.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the inquiry into the crash. Investigators are being supported by teams from multiple government agencies, including the local police. Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Banchha Nidhi Pani confirmed the recovery of the aircraft's black box. "The black box was embedded in the tail section of the aircraft, which had crashed into the building. Our teams acted swiftly and located it," he said.

City Police Commissioner GS Malik visited the site Sunday morning, while fire brigade officials said international teams are also assisting the probe.

A high-level committee headed by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan will meet in New Delhi on Monday. The panel is expected to examine all aspects of the disaster, including potential mechanical issues, human error, and regulatory compliance, and submit its report within three months. Meanwhile, Air India said it is working with other Tata group entities to assist grieving families. "More than 400 relatives have reached Ahmedabad. Our teams are supporting them with every necessary arrangement," the airline stated.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.