Air India Plane Crash: MEA Denies UK Media's ‘Wrong Body' Claim, Says 'Handled With Professionalism'
The crash of a Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad on June 12 claimed the lives of all but one of the 242 passengers on board, along with 19 people on the ground. Among the deceased were 52 British nationals. The aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London and crashed soon thereafter.
Earlier, Britain's Daily Mail reported that the remains of two British victims were mistakenly identified before being repatriated to the UK.
Reacting to this claim, MEA spokesperson said, 'We have seen the report and have been working closely with the UK side from the moment these concerns and issues were brought to our attention."
Our response to media queries regarding a report in the Daily Mail on the Air India crash
https://t.co/pTWIIMSBhi pic.twitter.com/IP9QgLNuz7 — Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 23, 2025
"In the wake of the tragic crash, the concerned authorities had carried out identification of victims as per established protocols and technical requirements. All mortal remains were handled with utmost professionalism and with due regard for the dignity of the deceased," he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
9 minutes ago
- Time of India
India Unites Against Trump's ‘ECONOMIC BLACKMAIL': PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Tharoor BLAST US Tariffs
India's SHOCK Reply To Trump's 50% Tariffs; Fires 'Will PROTECT National Interests' Warning In a strongly worded statement, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) sharply rejected the United States' new 25% tariff on Indian imports tied to Russian oil purchases—calling it 'unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.' The MEA clarified that India's energy imports are driven by market dynamics and national interest, aimed at securing reliable, affordable energy for its 1.4 billion citizens. India noted that many other countries—including China, Turkey, and the EU—are also continuing trade with Russia, yet are not being targeted in the same way. 7.1K views | 1 hour ago
India Today
28 minutes ago
- India Today
Centre spent Rs 1,500 crore on ministry rent, not anymore: PM at Kartavya Bhavan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the Kartavya Bhavan at Kartavya Path in Delhi. PM inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan, calling it the seed of Viksit Bharat Old ministry buildings from 1950s-70s are being replaced due to structural inefficiency Facility includes modern amenities and large conference spaces for government use Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan at Kartavya Path in New Delhi, pointing out that many central ministries were functioning from different locations across the national capital, with several housed in rented buildings. He revealed that the government was spending Rs 1,500 crore solely on rent. "Many ministries of the Indian government are being run from 50 different locations in Delhi. Most of these ministries are being run from rented buildings, with an annual expenditure of Rs 1.5 thousand crores. This amount is being spent by the central government just to pay rent," he said. PM Modi pointed out that the country's administrative machinery had been operating for decades after Independence from buildings constructed during the British era. He further highlighted the poor working conditions in the existing buildings, stating that they lacked proper lighting, space, and ventilation. "Can you imagine an important ministry like Home Affairs operating out of a building for nearly 100 years with insufficient resources?" the PM asked. He further said that the newly-inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan is not a mere structure or a piece of infrastructure, but that the seed of Viksit Bharat will be sown from this building. "In the coming decades, the direction of the country will be determined from this building," said PM Modi. Quoting from the Bhagavad Gita, PM Modi said that we must focus more on our kartavya (duty) than on the end result while carrying out our tasks. The ambitious project is aimed at bringing ministries and departments under one roof for efficiency. Kartavya Bhavan-03, the first to be inaugurated, will house the Home Affairs, External Affairs, Rural Development, MSME, DoPT, Petroleum & Natural Gas ministries, and the Principal Scientific Adviser's office. Many key ministries currently function from ageing buildings like Shastri Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, and Nirman Bhawan, constructed between the 1950s and 1970s, which are now "structurally outdated and inefficient," according to the government. The prime minister, accompanied by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Ministry Secretary HUA Secretary Katikithala Srinivas, took a tour of the newly constructed building. Srinivas briefed PM Modi about the features of Kartavya Bhavan. The HUA Ministry has plans to construct ten buildings as part of the Common Central Secretariat (CCS) under the government's Central Vista redevelopment project. Two CCS buildings, 1 and 2, are scheduled to be completed by next month, while construction work on CCS 10 will be finished by April next year. The project of CCS buildings 6 and 7 will be completed by October 2026. On Tuesday, Khattar said that offices functioning from the four bhawans will shift to four new locations on Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Minto Road, and Netaji Palace temporarily for two years, while the construction is carried out. A few buildings are currently proposed to be retained. These include the National Museum, National Archives, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan (External Affairs Ministry), and Dr Ambedkar Auditorium, which are new buildings. Vanijya Bhawan will also be retained. Under the Central Vista redevelopment plan, the government has already constructed a new Parliament building and the Vice President Enclave, and redeveloped the Kartavya Path that spans from Vijay Chowk to India Gate. Besides the Common Central Secretariat, the government will also construct an Executive Enclave that will house a new Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Cabinet Secretariat, India House, and National Security Council Secretariat. Under the second phase of the Executive Enclave, a new prime minister's residence will be constructed. The plinth area of the Kartavya Bhavan-03 is 1.5 lakh square metres with a basement area of 40,000 square metres. Its parking lot can accommodate 600 cars. The HUA ministry said the Kartavya Bhavan-03 has a creche, a yoga room, a medical room, a cafe, a kitchen, and a multipurpose hall. It has 24 main conference rooms, each with a capacity to seat 45 people, 26 small conference rooms, each with a capacity to seat 25 people, 67 meeting rooms, and 27 lifts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan at Kartavya Path in New Delhi, pointing out that many central ministries were functioning from different locations across the national capital, with several housed in rented buildings. He revealed that the government was spending Rs 1,500 crore solely on rent. "Many ministries of the Indian government are being run from 50 different locations in Delhi. Most of these ministries are being run from rented buildings, with an annual expenditure of Rs 1.5 thousand crores. This amount is being spent by the central government just to pay rent," he said. PM Modi pointed out that the country's administrative machinery had been operating for decades after Independence from buildings constructed during the British era. He further highlighted the poor working conditions in the existing buildings, stating that they lacked proper lighting, space, and ventilation. "Can you imagine an important ministry like Home Affairs operating out of a building for nearly 100 years with insufficient resources?" the PM asked. He further said that the newly-inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan is not a mere structure or a piece of infrastructure, but that the seed of Viksit Bharat will be sown from this building. "In the coming decades, the direction of the country will be determined from this building," said PM Modi. Quoting from the Bhagavad Gita, PM Modi said that we must focus more on our kartavya (duty) than on the end result while carrying out our tasks. The ambitious project is aimed at bringing ministries and departments under one roof for efficiency. Kartavya Bhavan-03, the first to be inaugurated, will house the Home Affairs, External Affairs, Rural Development, MSME, DoPT, Petroleum & Natural Gas ministries, and the Principal Scientific Adviser's office. Many key ministries currently function from ageing buildings like Shastri Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, and Nirman Bhawan, constructed between the 1950s and 1970s, which are now "structurally outdated and inefficient," according to the government. The prime minister, accompanied by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Ministry Secretary HUA Secretary Katikithala Srinivas, took a tour of the newly constructed building. Srinivas briefed PM Modi about the features of Kartavya Bhavan. The HUA Ministry has plans to construct ten buildings as part of the Common Central Secretariat (CCS) under the government's Central Vista redevelopment project. Two CCS buildings, 1 and 2, are scheduled to be completed by next month, while construction work on CCS 10 will be finished by April next year. The project of CCS buildings 6 and 7 will be completed by October 2026. On Tuesday, Khattar said that offices functioning from the four bhawans will shift to four new locations on Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Minto Road, and Netaji Palace temporarily for two years, while the construction is carried out. A few buildings are currently proposed to be retained. These include the National Museum, National Archives, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan (External Affairs Ministry), and Dr Ambedkar Auditorium, which are new buildings. Vanijya Bhawan will also be retained. Under the Central Vista redevelopment plan, the government has already constructed a new Parliament building and the Vice President Enclave, and redeveloped the Kartavya Path that spans from Vijay Chowk to India Gate. Besides the Common Central Secretariat, the government will also construct an Executive Enclave that will house a new Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Cabinet Secretariat, India House, and National Security Council Secretariat. Under the second phase of the Executive Enclave, a new prime minister's residence will be constructed. The plinth area of the Kartavya Bhavan-03 is 1.5 lakh square metres with a basement area of 40,000 square metres. Its parking lot can accommodate 600 cars. The HUA ministry said the Kartavya Bhavan-03 has a creche, a yoga room, a medical room, a cafe, a kitchen, and a multipurpose hall. It has 24 main conference rooms, each with a capacity to seat 45 people, 26 small conference rooms, each with a capacity to seat 25 people, 67 meeting rooms, and 27 lifts. Join our WhatsApp Channel
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
39 minutes ago
- Business Standard
India slams US 25% tariff as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable"
India on Wednesday termed the US decision to impose an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods 'extremely unfortunate,' 'unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,' and said it would take all actions necessary to protect its national interests. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the US has in recent days targeted India's oil imports from Russia. Referring to its statement on Monday evening, the MEA reiterated that India's imports are based on market factors and aimed at ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people. 'It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest,' the MEA said. After days of not responding publicly to threats from US President Donald Trump, the MEA had on Monday described the targeting of India and the European Union (EU) for importing Russian crude as unjustified and unreasonable. 'Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,' it said. The ministry noted that India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict, adding that at that time, the US actively encouraged such imports to strengthen global energy market stability. Pointing to what it called double standards by the US and EU, the MEA cited EU trade figures, noting that in 2024 the EU's bilateral trade in goods with Russia was €67.5 billion, with trade in services estimated at €17.2 billion in 2023 — significantly higher than India's total trade with Russia in the same period. European imports of LNG from Russia in 2024 reached a record 16.5 million tonnes, surpassing the previous record of 15.21 million tonnes in 2022. It added that Europe's trade with Russia includes not only energy but also fertilisers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel, and machinery and transport equipment. The US, it said, continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its electric vehicle industry, fertilisers, and chemicals. The MEA argued that India's imports are intended to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs for Indian consumers and are a necessity driven by the global market situation. 'However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,' it said.
