Unimaginable tragedy: PM Modi after visiting Ahmedabad crash site

Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ahmedabad on Friday to visit the Air India crash site. He also visited those injured in the crash at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

His visit comes a day after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed into a residential area near BJ Medical College shortly after take-off.

“Visited the crash site in Ahmedabad today. The scene of devastation is saddening. Met officials and teams working tirelessly in the aftermath. Our thoughts remain with those who lost their loved ones in this unimaginable tragedy,” Modi posted on X, following the site visit.

He then proceeded to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where 25 injured individuals are currently receiving treatment. In the C7 ward, he interacted with the victims and medical staff. Among the survivors he met was Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin and the sole survivor among the 242 passengers and crew on board the aircraft.

The tragedy also claimed the lives of four MBBS students and a doctor’s wife who were inside the BJ Medical College complex at the time of the crash. Several others sustained injuries when the falling aircraft hit the building. Later, Modi held discussions with state officials and civil aviation authorities at the GujSail office near the airport to review the situation and ongoing relief measures.

Modi, who served as Gujarat's Chief Minister for over a decade, on Thursday expressed his grief on the social media platform X, stating, “The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. My thoughts are with everyone affected.”

Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, who visited the site soon after the incident, confirmed that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will lead the inquiry per international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The AAIB will examine the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to understand what caused the sudden loss of altitude. In addition, the government is forming a multidisciplinary high-level committee comprising aviation safety experts, engineers, air traffic control specialists and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officials to examine broader issues and propose measures to enhance aviation safety.

Rescue operations have concluded, and forensic analysis is underway to aid the investigation. The aircraft carried 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and two pilots. Only one passenger, seated in 11A, a British national of Indian origin, survived and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital. The crash is being regarded as one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s history.
(With inputs from IANS)