‘70 Tola Gold, Rs 80,000’: First Responder Reveals What He Found At AI Plane Crash Site

Last Updated:June 17, 2025, 20:40 IST

AI plane crash at Ahmedabad: Netizens are applauding Raju Patel and his team, calling them “true heroes”. Patel had also participated in relief work during the 2008 blasts

Security personnel and volunteers at the site of the Air India plane crash. (PTI)

From 70 tola gold jewellery, Rs 80,000 in cash to passports and Bhagavad Gita, one of the first responders has revealed the items found at the site where Air India’s London-bound plane crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane first hit the mess building of BJ Medical College Civil Hospital and then crashed into the Atulyam Hostel, where senior residents doctors stayed. Both buildings suffered heavy damage and casualties.

Raju Patel, 56, a construction businessman, who was minutes away from the spot, was among the first to reach. “For the first 15-20 minutes, we could not even go near the debris. My team did not have stretchers, but they did not lose courage. Sarees and sheets were used to lift the injured. We used whatever we had. We only knew that we had to save lives. As soon as the first fire brigade and 108 ambulance reached the spot, we jumped into the rescue work," Patel told Navbharat Times, recounting the incident.

Patel said among the goods spread on the ground were scorched bags and broken things. “We recovered 70 tola gold jewellery, Rs 80,000 in cash, several passports and a Bhagavad Gita. All these things were immediately handed over to the police," he told NBT.

The officials allowed Patel and his team to stay at the spot till 9 pm. When the emergency services took control, Patel’s team started searching the debris.

Patel had also participated in relief work during the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts. Recalling that horrific incident, he said, “I was only 100 meters away from the civil hospital when the bomb exploded there. But this time’s devastation… this fire… I will never forget it."

Netizens are applauding Patel and his team on social media, calling them “true heroes". Many civil organizations have also appreciated his contribution and invited him to join emergency services in future.

Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi said on Sunday that all the recovered personal items are being documented and they will be handed over to the families of the deceased. Praising citizens like Patel, he said that the role of citizens is invaluable in such emergency situations.

Manjiri Joshi

At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ...Read More

At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ...

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