In a tragic turn of events, an Air India flight met with an accident shortly after takeoff on Thursday in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Originally bound for London, the flight carried 242 individuals, including 230 passengers. Only one, British citizen Vishwas Ramesh Kumar, survived, while 241 others succumbed. Official reports now state a total casualty count of 265. This discrepancy raises questions about those 24 others who also perished in the disaster.
According to PTI news agency, the crash tragically claimed the lives of five MBBS students, a PG resident doctor, and the wife of a super-specialist at B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad. However, detailed information regarding these individuals has not yet been released. The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has further reported that over 60 medical students sustained injuries from the incident. Dr. Divyansh Singh, FAIMA's National Vice President, indicated ongoing rescue operations, as many are feared trapped in the debris.
Dr. Singh highlighted that the recovered bodies were severely burnt. Notably, the Air India Boeing 787-8 had taken off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM, destined for London. It crashed shortly thereafter into the Meghani Nagar medical college campus, transforming into a ball of fire. FAIMA stated the aircraft lost balance and collided with the boys’ hostel building at B.J. Medical College.
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FAIMA noted the crash coincided with lunchtime, so many students and resident doctors were present. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also expressed deep sadness over the accident. The ill-fated flight had 230 passengers and 12 crew members, totaling 242 individuals. Among the passengers were 169 Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian national. Former Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP leader Vijay Rupani from Punjab, Chandigarh, was also on board.
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Efforts persist on-site to discover the aircraft's black box, flight data recorder, and cockpit voice recorder. These will be crucial for uncovering the sequence of events leading to the disaster. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the scene the following morning, gathering information and meeting the sole survivor at the civil hospital.
