Gujarat health minister confirms DNA match of former chief minister Vijay Rupani killed in Ahmedabad plane crash
The DNA of former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani has been matched with remains recovered from the Air India flight AI 171, confirmed Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel Sunday afternoon. Rupani's son was in Ahmedabad Saturday to provide a blood sample for the DNA identification process, which was held at B J Medical College.
Rupani, 68, was among the 242 people on board the Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick that crashed at around 1.38 pm on June 12 near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport seconds after take-off. His mortal remains were loaded into an ambulance from the crash site at around the same time Sunday.
Speaking at the mortuary complex of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, Health Minister Patel said, 'The DNA cross-verification of former chief minister Vijay Rupani has been completed. As soon as he received this news, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel met with the family of Rupaniji at their residence in Gandhinagar and assured them of all help in the transport of his mortal remains and final rites, as per the decisions of the family.'
Vijay Rupani was an MLA from Rajkot, and he resided there. His final rites are expected to be conducted in the city, with preparations for the same having begun, as per sources. However, the family has yet to make an official statement regarding the same.
Earlier, a close relative said Rupani was set to fly to London earlier this month to join his wife and daughter there but postponed his trip by a few days because of the Assembly bypolls on June 19.
A two-term chief minister, Rupani was the BJP in-charge for Punjab, where a bypoll is set to be held in Ludhiana West. There are also two bypolls scheduled in Gujarat, one in Visvadar in Junagadh and the other in Kadi in Mehsana.
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