Please stop: Plane crash victim's cousin slams influencers for exploiting tragedy
As families across the country struggle to come to terms with the horrific Air India crash that killed 270 people in Ahmedabad on Thursday, the grieving family member of one of the victims has issued a scathing appeal against the exploitation of the tragedy on social media.Kuldeep Bhatt, cousin of Komi Vyas - who died along with her husband Prateek Joshi and three children in the crash - condemned influencers and content creators for spreading misinformation, using doctored images and faking videos of the victims and their families to garner likes and views.advertisement'The biggest problem is that our family, as well as the families of 270 others, are going through mental trauma,' Bhatt said. 'And social media influencers, in an attempt to increase their views, likes and followers, are misusing crash videos, posting doctored visuals.'
Bhatt spoke of specific instances where private family photographs were manipulated. 'When Komi and others were leaving the flight, they took a selfie and posted it in our family group. Now that photo has gone viral. People have been generating videos from that photo. One such video has gone viral throughout India. It's AI-generated. The photo has been made into a fake video,' he said.Another particularly distressing image, according to Bhatt, involves the couple's daughter, Miraya. 'Since yesterday, a photo has been circulating on social media that is hurting us a lot. The girl is Miraya, such a lovely girl. Now we have no idea about the DNA sample. It has not matched. On social media, people are claiming her body is burnt. There are even videos circulating that her cremation is taking place.'advertisementThe family's anguish has been worsened by the appearance of fake social media accounts in the name of Komi. 'Photos of Komi are being misused. Fake accounts have been made. I request all social media influencers that please stop. Why are you giving us so much mental trauma just to increase your likes and followers?' Bhatt said.The tragic crash of Flight AI171 on Thursday afternoon claimed 241 lives onboard and killed several others on the ground after the aircraft, bound for London, crashed into a medical hostel and canteen complex in Meghaninagar area shortly after takeoff. Komi Vyas, her husband Prateek Joshi, and their children - twin sons Pradyut and Nakul, and daughter Miraya - were among the passengers.Bhatt emphasised that authorities and the family were open to helping with verified information but urged creators to act with basic responsibility. 'If you need any information, talk to the administration. You're getting official updates from there. If you need some photos or videos, we will provide them for you. But for your entertainment, for your popularity, please don't do this,' he said.Referring to another false claim circulating online, he said, 'One video being shared says it shows children's bodies. But the symbols seen in the video are coffins of Hadap and Mohan Chaudhary, written in Chitra Akshar. It's from some other incident. This is what we have to face - more mental trauma.'Calling out the insensitivity and recklessness of such content, Bhatt asked pointedly, 'What the hell are people doing?' and reminded content creators of their moral responsibility, especially during such a national tragedy. 'This is my request to you. Please stop all these things,' he said.Must Watch
IN THIS STORY#Ahmedabad Plane Crash#Ahmedabad#Air India
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Bodies of 38 victims handed to kin, Vijay Rupani among those IDed
File photo: Ex-Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani (Photo: ANI) AHMDEABAD: Bodies of 38 victims from the June 12 crash of Air India Flight 171 were handed over to relatives by Sunday evening, 30 passengers and crew aboard the Boeing Dreamliner and eight who died on the ground when the plane slammed into buildings at BJ Medical College. Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani was among those identified through DNA testing, state health minister Rushikesh Patel said. Rupani's son Rishabh provided a blood sample on Saturday. The government has declared a state mourning on Monday, with the tricolour at half-staff. Rupani's last rites will be conducted with state honours in Rajkot. Teams of doctors and forensic experts continued 24/7 DNA matching of bodies and body parts with samples from relatives. DNA from 86 passengers and crew matched by 6 pm Sunday, officials said. "All 230 families of passengers aboard have been contacted," said state relief commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey. "Relatives of three foreigners are expected to arrive by Monday evening or Tuesday morning. We're coordinating inquest reports, death certificates, and other formalities at the hospital." Additional medical superintendent Dr Rajneesh Patel said 24 bodies were handed over by 4 pm Sunday - including one victim from Udaipur, five from Vadodara, eight from Ahmedabad, five from Kheda, four from Mehsana, and one from Aravalli. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Outside the mortuary, families wept as coffins were released. Crematoriums across Gujarat saw heart-wrenching farewells. In Ahmedabad, Megha Mehta's family held her last rites at Thaltej. In Ramnagar village of Anand, Mahendra Vaghela, who died en route to meet his newborn granddaughter in the UK, was cremated amid mourning. For others, the wait dragged on. At a government press conference, a distraught Rohit Patel interrupted officials: "Please give us a definite time frame in which we will get bodies of our loved ones?" Officials said families would be contacted as soon as DNA matches are confirmed. A multi-agency team led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau inspected the crash site Sunday.
The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
Plane crash: DNA tests identify 80 victims including ex-CM Rupani; 33 bodies handed over to kin
Rupani was among the 242 passengers and crew members on board the London-bound Air India flight AI-171 that crashed on Thursday. Authorities have handed over 33 bodies to the victims' families, officials said on Sunday. Ahmedabad, Jun 15 (PTI) Three days after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, which has so far claimed 270 lives, hospital authorities confirmed on Sunday the identification of 80 victims through DNA matching, including that of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The Gujarat government has announced a state mourning for Rupani on Monday. His funeral procession will be held in Rajkot in the evening. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a medical college complex moments after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 PM on Thursday. So far 29 people are reported to have died in the disaster on the ground which includes five MBBS students. Only one person from the aircraft miraculously survived. 'A total of 80 plane crash victims have been identified so far through DNA matching. Of these, the bodies of 33 victims have been handed over to their respective families,' Additional Civil Superintendent Dr. Rajnish Patel told reporters. The victims whose mortal remains were handed over were from Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Kheda, Botad and other places. Of the 51 people injured in the incident, 38 have been discharged, while 13 are still undergoing treatment, said Dr. Patel, a professor of surgery at the government-run B J Medical College. According to Dr. Dhaval Gameti, president of the BJ Medical College Junior Doctors' Association, around 270 bodies were brought to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital from the crash site. State Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey told reporters that families of all 230 passengers who perished on the flight have been contacted. 'Members of only three deceased passengers are yet to give their DNA samples as they live abroad. They are expected to arrive tomorrow evening. Along with the mortal remains, we are also handing over death certificates to the kin so that they don't face any issues afterwards,' said Pandey. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading a thorough probe into the causes of the crash. Various Central and state government agencies, including the state police, are assisting the AAIB team at the crash site in Meghaninagar. Sources said the first meeting of a high-level multi-disciplinary committee formed by the Centre will be held on Monday in New Delhi. The committee, headed by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, is mandated to ascertain the 'root cause' of the plane crash and assess any contributing factors, including mechanical failure, human error, and regulatory compliances. The committee has been mandated to submit its report within three months. As part of the ongoing efforts, 230 teams have been formed to coordinate with the victims' families. Ahmedabad fire brigade officials said three delegations visited the crash site on Sunday including some foreigners to assist investigators. Meanwhile, Air India on Sunday said it is working closely with other Tata group companies to provide every possible assistance to the families and loved ones of the plane crash victims. The airline in a statement also said that over 400 family members have reached Ahmedabad and are being assisted by its teams on the ground. To assess the situation, P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visited the crash site and Civil Hospital on Sunday. He was briefed on the sequence of events and interacted with the injured. State government officials apprised Mishra about the sequence of events leading to the disaster, which is the country's worst aviation accident in decades. After enquiring about the health of the injured, Mishra proceeded to the hospital's morgue area. 'I am very pained by the enormity of the tragedy. Everybody is sad. It is our duty to share grief and express our feelings for the victims,' Mishra told reporters. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Commissioner Banchha Nidhi Pani highlighted the crucial recovery of the black box, an essential component of the investigation. 'The black box recovery was a very important part of the investigation process…The AMC immediately acted and the black box was also recovered,' Pani said, noting its location in the tail end of the aircraft, which was embedded in a building. City Police Commissioner G.S. Malik also visited the accident site on Sunday morning. PTI PJT PD PR ACB IAS GK BNM SKL NSK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Mortal remains of former Gujarat CM Rupani, over 40 victims identified through DNA profiling; Air India contacts relatives of all victims
Authorities at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital had identified 47 victims of the Air India plane crash through DNA profiling on Sunday (June 15, 2025), with 24 bodies already handed over to grieving families, while the airline said it had established contact with the next of kin of all passengers and crew members. Over 400 family members have reached the city, officials said. The mortal remains of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was on board the ill-fated flight, were identified through DNA samples, State Health Minister Rushikesh Patel confirmed. 'The body has been identified, and we are coordinating with the family to transport his mortal remains to Rajkot,' Mr. Patel said. Rupani's son, Rishabh Rupani, had submitted his DNA sample on Saturday (June 14, 2025). The Minister also announced that the funeral of the former Chief Minister will be held at Rajkot on Monday (June 16, 2025) with full State honours. 'Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel informed Vijay Rupani's family as soon as the DNA match confirmation was received,' Mr. Patel said. 'The family will receive his mortal remains from the Civil Hospital at 11:30 a.m. on Monday (June 16, 2025). The body will then be flown to Rajkot, arriving there by 2 p.m. The funeral procession will begin at 5 p.m., and the last rites will be performed at 6 p.m. with full State honours.' 'A total of 47 victims have been matched through DNA testing so far, and 24 bodies have been returned to their families, most of them from Rajasthan and different parts of Gujarat,' said the hospital's Head of Surgery Dr. Rajnish Patel, adding that DNA matching was still under way for several victims. The State Forensic Science Laboratory unit and the National Forensic Sciences University team are working to match more DNA samples. Also Read | What India searched for after the Air India plane crash: A digital reflection of collective anxiety A total of 242 people – passengers and crew – were on board the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner when it crashed minutes after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday (June 12, 2025) afternoon. Only one passenger survived the accident. In addition to those on board, several people on the ground, including MBBS students in a college hostel, were killed in the incident. In a post on X, Tata-owned Air India stated that each affected family has been assigned at least one caregiver to provide personalised assistance. 'The solemn process of handing over the mortal remains and their personal effects to the next of kin is ongoing. Air India is working closely with the authorities and will be assisting in the movement out of Gujarat and repatriation initiatives, where appropriate,' it said. Air India expressed gratitude to the Central and State governments for their support, as well as to the staff at Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital and Rajasthan Hospital for their tireless efforts. 'Air India remains fully cooperative with the ongoing investigation led by the authorities and will continue to provide updates as verified information becomes available. Friends and Relatives Assistance Centres remain operational at Ahmedabad and Mumbai airports to support families seeking information,' it said. To support grieving families and streamline identification and logistics, authorities have deployed 230 teams across the country and coordinated with foreign missions, as many of the victims were foreign nationals. Earlier on Saturday (June 14, 2025), Alok Kumar Pandey, Relief Commissioner and Secretary, State Revenue department, had established contact with the families of 11 foreign nationals. 'A total of 230 teams have been formed to establish contact and hand over the mortal remains to the families. We began handing over the bodies today,' he said. Mr. Pandey added that the victims from Gujarat hailed from 18 districts and that the administration was also in touch with diplomats of other countries. He said death certificates were being issued on the spot to avoid any inconvenience to the families. 'Each body will be escorted to its native place in an ambulance with police protection. Grief counsellors are also being provided to help families cope with the trauma,' he added.
