Air India begins disbursement of ₹25 lakh compensation to Ahmedabad crash victims' families, 3 receive payment so far

Mint

5 hours ago

Air India has begun disbursing the interim compensation of ₹ 25 lakhs to Ahmedabad crash victims' families, with three families having received the payments so far, the airline said in a statement released on Saturday.
The sum of ₹ 25 lakh is in addition to the ₹ 1 crore or approximately GBP 85,000 compensation, which the Tata Sons group had announced hours after the fatal crash.
Air India also stated that it has been 'reaching out to those who were injured and the families of those who lost their lives on the ground to initiate the compensation process for them.'
As many as 270 people were killed — including 241 people onboard the ill fated flight, 29 others on ground — after Air India's flight A1171 smashed into Ahmedabad's BJ Medical College Hostel on Thursday, June 12, reported PTI.
Air India further added that families were being assisted through out the hospital processes, including DNA identification of the victims.
Family members of Mahesh Kalavadiya, 34, who died after an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane crashed during take-off from an airport, mourn in Ahmedabad, India, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave
As of Saturday, a total of 247 victims have been identified through DNA tests, with 232 bodies handed over to kin, officials told news wire PTI.
Following the crash, since many of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition or damaged otherwise, authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of victims of the horrific tragedy.
The Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital — where the bodies are being kept — Dr Rakesh Joshi said that the 247 victims who have been identified comprise 187 Indians, 52 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and a Canadian.
Of the 187 Indians, a total of 175 were on board the ill-fated aircraft and belonged to areas in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Diu and Nagaland.
With the DNA identification process still underway, eight families who lost their near ones in the crash have been asked to submit the DNA sample of another relative as the previous ones failed to match.