PMO Team Visits Air India Crash Site; Hospital Says Body Handover May Take 3-4 More Days
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Sources told CNN-News18 that the team, led by PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will remain in Gujarat for two days.
A senior delegation from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) arrived in Ahmedabad on Sunday to supervise relief and rescue efforts in the aftermath of the deadly crash of an Air India flight.
Sources told CNN-News18 that the team, led by PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will remain in Gujarat for two days.
The visit underscores the Centre's serious approach to the tragic incident, which has claimed hundreds of lives and prompted a massive emergency response.
According to officials, the PMO delegation will hold key meetings with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the Director General of Police, and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home).
The discussions will centre around inter-agency coordination, ongoing rescue operations, and logistical support for victims' families.
Body Handover In 3-4 Days
State Emergency Commissioner Alok Pandey on Sunday said that the process of handing over all bodies of the victims to their families may take another three to four days.
Meanwhile, authorities confirmed the identities of 47 victims from the plane crash through DNA matching, and have so far handed over 24 bodies to their families, officials said.
'A total of 47 plane crash victims have been identified so far through DNA matching. Of these, bodies of 24 victims have been handed over to the respective families. These deceased were from Rajasthan and different parts of Gujarat," Additional Civil Superintendent Dr. Rajnish Patel told reporters.
Further, they said that 22 death certificates have been issued so far, and the bodies have been handed over to the respective families. He added that 22 teams have been formed to assist the families with the insurance process to ensure they do not face financial difficulties.
The London-bound AI 171 flight departed from Ahmedabad at 1:38 pm on June 12, but within minutes, it crashed into a medical hostel, claiming hundreds of lives.
Of the 242 people on board, only one survived after Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a student hostel near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, losing altitude at 650 feet shortly after takeoff.
First Published:
June 15, 2025, 19:44 IST
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