Ahmedabad airplane crash: Death toll rises to 274; Vijay Rupani’s funeral on Monday with state honours

Gujarat health minister Rushikesh Patel on Sunday confirmed that 274 people have died in the devastating Air India crash that shook Ahmedabad last week. So far, DNA of 45 victims has been matched with relatives, he said, as efforts to identify the dead continue.The London-bound Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on 12 June. The aircraft struck a doctors’ hostel at BJ Medical College, erupting into flames upon impact.“Till now, 45 DNA samples have matched. Around 274 people have lost their lives in the heart-wrenching incident,” Patel said, quoted by ANI.Among the victims was former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani. His funeral will be held on Monday with full state honours.“CM Bhupendra Patel informed Vijay Rupani's family about the DNA samples matching as soon as the information was received,” Patel said. “Tomorrow, at 11.30 am, the family will receive Vijay Rupani's mortal remains from the Civil Hospital. The mortal remains will be taken to Rajkot by air and reach there at 2.

The funeral will be carried out at 5 pm and the last rites will be completed at 6 pm with state honours.”The state’s Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) are leading the identification process. FSL Director HP Sanghavi explained that DNA testing has become essential due to the intense fire following the crash.The heat from the blaze was so extreme that traditional methods of identification are simply not possible, Sanghavi said.On Saturday, Air India announced an interim financial assistance package of Rs 25 lakh for the families of the deceased and for the lone survivor, in addition to the Rs 1 crore compensation already pledged by parent company Tata Sons.Of the 242 people onboard, 241 died. The sole survivor, identified as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British citizen of Indian origin, remains in hospital with injuries.