'His Body Is Reduced To A Skeleton': At Ahmedabad Hospital, Families Wait In Agony For Closure
Last Updated:
As per government officials, 80 doctors have been pressed into service just to complete the post mortem in time and reduce the ordeal for the families
Outside the post-mortem wing of Ahmedabad's civil hospital, the pavement has barely any space to walk as family members—from Patan, Banaskantha, and outside the state—endure an endless wait to take the remains of their loved ones home.
More than 250 bodies have been brought to the hospital's post-mortem wing since Thursday when a London-borne Air India flight crashed just minutes after taking off, killing 241 passengers while one miraculously survived. As per government officials, 80 doctors have been pressed into service just to complete the postmortem in time and reduce the ordeal for the families. Yet, so far, only five families have matched with the DNA samples recovered, and the bodies have been handed over.
For most others, like the Patni family, the wait for closure is endless. Suresh Bhai Patni can't stop his tears. He lost his 15-year-old son Akash to the crash, while his wife has 50 per cent burns.
'His body has been reduced to a skeleton. Only some bones remain. And even that I don't know when I will get," Patni sobs.
Akash, a Class 8 student, had come to his mother's tea stall to give her a tiffin box for lunch. He was resting at their mobile tea shop outside the medical college when the wing of the crashed aircraft landed a few meters away. Before anyone could react, a ball of flames engulfed Akash. His mother Sita Ben suffered burns on her limbs while trying to save their son.
'How do I tell her about Aakash? She will die on the hospital bed itself. Doctors give me hope that they might be able to save her," Patni tells News18.
A few steps away, Pralhad Bhai sits exhausted. He has gone from hospital to hospital, agency to agency since Thursday night, looking for his wife Sarla and daughter Aadya.
'Sarla used to cook rotis at the doctor's mess. Aadya had accompanied her. I have no news of them since the plane crashed into the mess," he tells News18. 'I have given my blood sample here now. I don't know who they will match it with," a dejected Pralhad said.
First Published:
June 13, 2025, 14:53 IST
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Kamdar kin: One crash snatched our 3 generations
Nagpur: Ten days after Air India's Ahmedabad-London flight AI-171 crash that claimed over 250 lives, the pain continues to hurt the city's Kamdar family. "One accident destroyed three generations of our family. We are left with an irredeemable void in our hearts," said a family member at a gathering organised on Saturday evening to pay tribute to the lives lost. Members of Nagpur's Gujarati-Jain community came together to stand by the Kamdar family who lost three loved ones in the plane crash. The accident claimed the life of 32-year-old Yasha Kamdar Modha, her mother-in-law Rakshaben Modha, and her young son Rudra. Yasha was described as a lively and affectionate person. A mathematics postgraduate who had moved to Germany after marriage, she was remembered for her quick grasp of German language and her soulful singing. "She picked up German in no time," said a relative. "She was brilliant, but more than that, she was full of life." Emotions ran high as a nostalgic audio clip of Yasha singing a popular 1990s devotional track was played. Her voice resonated through the hall, stirring deep emotions among the attendees. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรด CFDs ด้วยเทคโนโลยีเทรดสุดล้ำ และ รวดเร็วกว่า IC Markets สมัคร Undo Many in the gathering were visibly moved, some quietly wiping away tears. "Hearing her voice again, especially in such a moment of grief, was overwhelming," shared a close family friend. Community elder Kirti Shah told TOI: "This tragedy is not confined to one family — it has affected all of us. Yasha was one of our own. Despite living abroad for several years, she never distanced herself from her roots. She remained connected, involved, and proud of her heritage," she said. Kunal Jain, a long-time friend of the Kamdar family, spoke about the fear and shock the crash had triggered in the community. "It's hard to process something so sudden and irreversible. Accidents like these make you question everything. There's a sense of fear around air travel now," he admitted. "But we also have to remind ourselves that flights are essential in today's world. They connect us, bring families together, and open opportunities. We can't let fear paralyse our lives, even in the face of tragedy." Two other friends of the Kamdars, who wished not to be named, echoed similar sentiments about the family and the respect for them in the community. "The Kamdars were always ready to help anyone in need — quietly, without seeking attention or recognition. They were humble, warm-hearted people who treated everyone like family," one of them said.
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
Ahmedabad crash: At least 20 on-ground deaths confirmed; 247 DNA matches complete, 232 bodies handed over
While the exact death toll of June 12 Air India plane crash is still not clear, it has emerged that at least 20 people may have been killed on the ground when the aircraft slammed into a Medical College hostel in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar, The Indian Express has learnt. By 6 pm on Saturday, the process of matching a total of 247 DNA samples of the victims with their living family members had been completed, said officials at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. These included 238 people who were on board the ill-fated Boeing aircraft, the officials added. As many as 241 out of the 242 passengers who boarded the plane lost their lives in the tragedy. Meanwhile, the process of DNA analysis of samples taken from the bodies of victims with those of their living relatives is still underway, almost 10 days after the crash. Of the 247 DNA matches, 232 bodies have been handed over to the families. Out of the remaining 15 identified bodies, three families are awaiting the remains of their other family members since more than one of their kin perished in the crash. Six bodies are ready to be handed over while scheduling with families is underway to hand over the mortal remains of another six passengers. The Indian Express has learnt that of the 247 bodies identified through DNA as of Saturday evening, 175 were Indian, 52 British, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, and 12 non-passengers. Dr Rakesh Joshi, Medical Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, confirmed that of the 12 non-passengers whose bodies had been handed over to families, nine had died on the spot and their identification had to be carried out through DNA analysis. Three of the victims were admitted to the hospital in a critical state and succumbed to their injuries later. On bodies that could be identified without the need for DNA profiling, Dr Joshi said, 'We had handed over eight such bodies to their families. In these cases, the need for DNA profiling did not arise because their bodies were identifiable.' All these eight persons were those who had died on the ground, bringing the total number of casualties in the Atulyam hostels of B J Medical College and those on the road to 20. This also takes the estimated death toll to 261 persons, including 241 airline passengers. Resampling needed in some cases Meanwhile, The Indian Express has learnt that some families had to give additional DNA samples. This is because initial blood samples were taken from distant relatives, which may have not been enough to prove a blood relation, people in the know of the matter said. There could be other problems with the blood samples during the DNA profiling process, they added. Dr Joshi said, 'We have done resampling for some families. In cases where a delay was taking place, we asked for additional samples from families. The most effective blood samples to match are between a parent and a child. But in the earlier phase of the tragedy, immediate family may not have been available. Since they came later, we took additional samples from them. In some cases, we were about to take additional samples but before that, we received the news that the body had been identified.'
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
‘The lone survivor asked me if I rescued his brother wearing white T-shirt'
Ahmedabad: "Did you rescue any person in white T-shirt?" asks Viswashkumar, the sole survivor of the Air India AI171 crash, when he learned that Bhavansinh Shekhavat was admitted to the hospital as he received injuries while saving the victims. Shekhavat and Viswashkumar received initial treatment in Civil Hospital's C-7 ward. Shekhavat recounts, "After I regained consciousness, people came to know that I was one of those who rescued victims. Viswashkumar, who was a couple of beds away from me, asked me, 'Did you save any victim from the plane in a white T-shirt?' I told him that I did not, but someone else might have. I later realised that Viswashkumar's brother was also on the same flight and was probably wearing white T-shirt," he said. Shekhavat, who is a cloth merchant, was discharged after two days of treatment and recalls the accident. "I was at my residence, which is in the vicinity of the crash site. I heard major blasts, and I thought it might be some explosion. I left my home with the intention to see what the incident was. I took a lift, and when I reached the crash site, the fire was intense. At least five to seven people were active in rescuing and saving people. " "I thought if they can risk their lives and save people, why not me? This motivated me to join the brigade, and immediately, I rushed towards the mess from where there were calls for rescue," he said. "As I went upstairs, the fire brigade and other volunteers were using a jet spray to douse the kitchen fire. The operation to douse the fire was from the ground, and realising that the jet force could collapse the damaged wall, we asked them to give us the hose pipe. However, when we failed to catch it, they used the ladder to give us the pipe, and then a couple of fire officials also joined in," said Shekhavat. Shekhavat said that he and a few others entered the kitchen and saw cylinders. "If there was a cylinder blast, it would further lead to an explosion damaging the building, and hence, I lifted one cylinder and threw it at a safe distance, and another volunteer threw the second cylinder." "While we were rescuing people, I noticed the leg of a woman who was buried under the debris. She was immediately removed from the debris. We saved at least five to six doctors. But suddenly, some chemical fell on me, creating a burning sensation in my eyes," said Shekhavat. He washed his eyes and joined again, but by then the smoke had intensified, and he began feeling uneasiness. "I then sat under the staircase, and when I came to consciousness, I was in the C-7 ward of Civil Hospital with several doctors who were trapped in the mess and the sole survivor of the AI171 crash," recounts Shekhavat.
