"Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani's agni sanskar to be performed at Ramnathpara today": Crematorium Chairman

India Gazette

4 hours ago

Rajkot (Gujarat) [India], June 16 (ANI): The 'agni sanskar' of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will be performed at the Ramnathpara crematorium in Rajkot on Monday evening, with the funeral procession scheduled to begin from his residence at 5 pm.
Speaking to ANI, the Chairman of Ramnathpara crematorium said, 'The 'agni sanskar' of Vijay Rupani will be performed here. The 'agni sanskar' will be performed around 6 pm, and the procession will begin at 5 pm from his residence.'
Rupani's mortal remains are being transported from Ahmedabad to Rajkot by air. According to officials, the body was received from the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital mortuary at around 11:30 am and is expected to reach Rajkot by 2 pm.
The Tricolour is being brought to the Civil Hospital mortuary in Ahmedabad to be draped over his mortal remains. Around 2,000 kilograms of flowers will be used to decorate the hearse van that will carry the body of the former Chief Minister.
Rupani was among the 241 who died when the London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff, colliding with a doctor's hostel complex near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. His identity was confirmed through DNA testing, hospital authorities said, hospital officials said.
Dr Rajnish Patel, Additional Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, said Rupani was among the 87 individuals whose identities were confirmed through DNA testing. A total of 92 DNA matches have been completed, accounting for duplication in remains. So far, 47 bodies have been dispatched to various districts.
'Of the bodies brought to Civil Hospital, DNA matching of 92 (body remains) is completed, of this (the number of) individuals is 87 because there is duplication. 47 bodies have been dispatched from here...Bodies have been dispatched to Kheda, Ahmedabad, Kota, Mahesana, Bharuch, Vadodara, Aravalli, Anand, Junagarh, Bhavnagar, Amreli, Mahisagar and Bhavnagar,' Dr Patel said.
The state government and hospital authorities continued their efforts to identify the deceased through DNA testing.
He added that the relatives of two more victims were expected to arrive Monday night, while 13 families were scheduled to collect the bodies on Tuesday. For 21 victims, family members would take the bodies after further consultations.
In the case of 11 victims, their relatives were also among the crash victims, and the bodies would be released once the remaining DNA matches were completed.
So far, the bodies of victims have been returned to families in several regions, as 12 victims from Ahmedabad, five from Baroda, four from Mehsana, four from Anand, two from Kheda, two from Bharuch, one from Udaipur, one from Jodhpur, one from Botad and the last one from Aravalli.
Dr Patel highlighted that the state government had assigned a special team for each deceased person's family: a senior officer, a police official, and a professional counsellor. These teams were responsible for supporting the families emotionally and logistically through the identification and handover process.
As the identification process continued, authorities assured each body would be handed over with full respect and dignity.
Meanwhile, in the Ahmedabad plane crash, out of the 242 people involved, the sole survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, is currently undergoing treatment for his injuries.
Additionally, at least 33 others, including local residents and MBBS students, lost their lives on the ground. (ANI)