Air India flight crash: Body of missing filmmaker among 210 handed over to family members
Eight days after Air India flight AI 171 crashed, the authorities have identified 230 victims and handed 210 bodies to families, officials said Friday. The bodies that were returned included that of Mahesh Kalawadia, 34, a filmmaker who was among four people reported missing after the incident.
Kalawadia's DNA was matched with a family member's and his body was handed over to his family Friday afternoon, sources at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital said.
As earlier reported by The Indian Express, Kalawadia was neither in the flight nor in the BJ Medical College hostel where it crashed. His last location before his phone switched off was nearly 700 metres from the hostel. While the filmmaker's family hoped he was not among those killed, police had convinced them to give their DNA samples in case his body was found.
Dr Rakesh Joshi, Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital, in a video statement on June 20 evening said, 'While DNA analysis of 230 victims has been completed, 210 bodies have been handed over to the families. While the families of 8 deceased are awaiting the bodies… 10 families are yet to decide on a time to receive the remains and 3 families are awaiting air clearance for air transport of the bodies.'
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Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Interpol guidelines to DNA matching: The painstaking work to find Ahmedabad plane crash victims' families some closure
A crowd near the entrance of the 1,200-bed Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on June 15 piqued Rohit Patel's curiosity. Moments later, Rohit, a grizzled man in a cerulean shirt who had been perched outside the mortuary complex since June 12, followed the crowd, squeezing into a gap behind a table. At this table, three Gujarat officials were giving updates on the identification status of the June 12 air crash victims. Minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport, a London-bound Air India flight with 242 people went down, its tail striking the first-floor mess at B J Medical College and Hospital, located a kilometre away, killing 241 onboard and at least 19 people on the ground. Interrupting the officials, Rohit, who had travelled to Ahmedabad from Kheda district, around 50 km away, said, 'My nephew and his wife were on the plane. I have been at the hospital since the crash. We submitted a DNA sample on June 12. We were told their bodies would be given to us today (June 15) but now officials are saying they need more time to identify the remains.' Turning around, Dr Rajnish Patel, Additional Medical Superintendent, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, replied, 'We (doctors and the Forensic Science Laboratory) are working as fast as possible but checking each sample carefully takes three-four days. Please come here only after you get a call from us. We will handhold you through the entire process.' With most victims charred beyond recognition, including 12 people at the crash site, confirming their identities correctly has been a formidable task. As of 11.50 am on June 20, 223 victims had been identified and 204 remains handed over to families. Officials say the final toll will be declared after the DNA profiling of all victims is complete. Even as families described the wait for the bodies as 'painful', an official at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital says, 'We are following the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) guidelines prescribed by Interpol (largest international police organisation with 196 member nations). Bodies are also being embalmed and put in sealed coffins before being handed over to kin.' The three primary identifiers, according to the 2023 DVI guidelines, are 'fingerprints, odontology (dental examination) and DNA profiling'. Secondary identifiers include 'tattoos, scars and ornaments', but are considered 'inaccurate'. Dr Jayasankar P Pillai, a forensic odontologist at Ahmedabad's Government Dental College, stepped in to help extract dental DNA and compile a dental charting of the victims. A different team profiled DNA samples later. Given the magnitude of the tragedy, Dr Pillai says he knew he needed help with the work. 'I sent a message seeking help from my current and former students. Fifty of them turned up at the hospital within hours. We began autopsies, dental examinations and DNA sample collections around 6 pm on June 12. By 4.30 am on June 13, the process was completed for most victims.' The autopsy required doctors from the Departments of Forensic Odontology and Forensic Medicine to collect samples of each victim's teeth and bones, which were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). At FSL, these samples were matched against those obtained from their relatives — the second step of identity confirmation and the gold standard. The third step — fingerprint analysis — could not be conducted since most bodies were charred in the fire that broke out after the crash. Explaining why molars were 'the best bet' to find a DNA sample in this case, Dr Pillai says, 'Teeth can usually withstand higher temperatures than our bodies. The rotation and gaps between teeth are unique to each person, like fingerprints. The melting point of a metal or ceramic crown (from a root canal treatment) is higher. Even if a tooth is destroyed, it is unlikely that the crown would be destroyed too.' In case his team found a dental crown, he says they asked the kin for the victim's dental records. 'This ante- and post-mortem comparison of dental characteristics, coupled with DNA profiling, leaves nothing to chance.' Dr Tamanna Parmar, a periodontologist, was at her clinic, nearly 15 km from the Civil Hospital, when she heard about the crash. Having completed her post-graduation from the Government Dental College in 2024, she called up her juniors in college immediately. 'They told me they had left the mess just 15 minutes before the crash.' Then, she says, she received Dr Pillai's message seeking help. Two hours later, she and two of her batch-mates were at the hospital. 'Due to barricading near the hospital, we had to park our vehicles 1 km away and walk,' she says. The mortuary complex, she says, is a sight that she will 'never forget' — the fire and rigor mortis (stiffening of the body after death) had caused many bodies to twist badly. 'It took two people to just straighten them before we could start the dental exam. I looked for dental characteristics specific to victims and made observations on dental treatments or prosthetics in their mouths,' Dr Parmar says. The DNA samples — teeth and bones — were put inside labelled containers and transferred to the FSL. DNA profiling and matching took place at two laboratories — the Directorate of Forensic Science (DFS) and the Centre of Excellence in DNA Analysis at the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) — both located on the same road in Gandhinagar, around 20 km from the Civil Hospital. At NFSU, the opening of all samples was videographed for evidence, Professor (Dr) S O Junare, director, Gujarat campus, NFSU, tells The Indian Express. 'The samples were cleaned thoroughly with distilled water and chemicals to remove all traces of someone else's DNA,' he says, adding that this step was necessary because multiple persons had come in contact with the bodies — from rescue to medical personnel. Stating that extracting DNA from blood is easier, an NFSU forensic expert says, 'We powder the teeth or bones and then use the magnetic bead-based extraction method to get the DNA. This can take nearly 10 hours. To check if that sample is viable, it is run through another test (q-PCR) before profiling starts.' At this point, Dr Junare says, the team is able to ascertain the victim's gender. Diluted and using a 24-marker kit (24 genetic markers), the DNA is run through a genetic analyser to create a genetic profile. 'The entire process takes 72-96 hours,' a scientist says. Reference blood samples from living relatives — collected at B J Medical College's Kasauti Bhavan at the time of autopsies — went through the same process before the comparative analysis. 'Reference samples are matched against all deceased samples till we get a hit,' says Dr Junare. A major challenge in such tragedies, he says, is the death of an entire family. 'In these cases, we take reference blood samples from grandparents or uncles or nieces,' he says. Since DNA is measured in centimorgans (cM) to determine the closeness of the relation, the higher the cM value, the closer the degree of relation. For instance, we share around 25% of our DNA with each grandparent, say experts. In these cases, the Y chromosome short tandem repeat (Y-STR) markers and X-STR markers are used to determine paternal and maternal lineage respectively, he says. Another obstacle is determining the correct identity of siblings or identical twins belonging to the same gender. While siblings share almost 50% of their DNA, most identical twins have almost completely identical DNA. While their DNA profiling was on, the bodies of most victims were embalmed. Dr Dharmesh Patel, Head, Department of Forensic Medicine, Civil Hospital, said in a statement, 'The bodies were embalmed so that they could sustain long-distance travel.' Though most final rites took place across Gujarat, in some cases, the bodies were sent to Nagaland and even the United Kingdom. Explaining the process, Dr Patel says, 'A chemical solution (like formaldehyde) is introduced into the body to preserve it. As per legal requirements, embalming and coffin sealing certificates were issued. Each victim's belongings were also duly certified.' Dr Rakesh Joshi, Medical Superintendent, Civil Hospital, says the handing over of bodies to the families was the 'most critical part' of this process. 'Unfortunately, the body identification process is painstakingly slow, not only due to the implications it has for the family, but also the law.' Gujarat Relief Commissioner Alok Pandey had recently said that the Treasury Department was working on getting inquest reports and insurance claims ready for families 'as soon as possible'. A 24/7 help desk has also been set up by the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority (GSLSA) to help families. The most difficult identification so far has been that of minors. As per the airline manifest, 13 children aged 12 years and below were on the plane. While three had not yet turned 2 years old, the others were mostly aged between 11 and 18 years. Officials say they were able to obtain just 'partial' DNA profiles for some 'whom we suspect are minors', making an 'accurate' match difficult. Though DNA can be taken from any tooth in the case of children, accidents involving a fire complicate matters, says Dr Pillai. He explains, 'Heat degrades their front teeth. Also, children aged six years and below only have milk teeth. In such cases, we try to extract the permanent molars developing inside their jaws.' The age of minors on the manifest also helped. 'Some of these minors had developed their second molars. So we knew they were between three to six years old. That helped narrow down their identification,' he adds. (With inputs from Aditi Raja)
News18
2 hours ago
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Filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala's Death Confirmed In Ahmedabad Plane Crash; Here's What Happened
The confirmation of Mahesh Jirawala's death has come as a shock to the Gujarati film community and his fans. Gujarati filmmaker Mahesh Kalawadia, widely known as Mahesh Jirawala, has been officially confirmed dead in the recent Ahmedabad plane crash. He had been reported missing near Shahibaug on the day of the incident, sparking concerns about his safety. However, if recent reports are to be believed, a burnt Activa scooter registered to Jirawala was discovered at the crash site. This raised suspicions of his involvement in the crash. His mobile phone was also last tracked to the same location before it went off, further pointing to the likelihood that he was among the victims. These findings ultimately helped confirm his tragic demise in the accident. DNA test results have also confirmed his identity. Initially, Jirawala's family was initially unwilling to accept the body, since they could not believe that the filmmaker had passed away in a tragic way. However, after police presented strong evidence, including his Activa's number and the DNA report, the family agreed to claim the body. The confirmation of Mahesh Jirawala's death has come as a shock to the Gujarati film community and his fans. Mahesh, who was also the CEO of the production house, Mahesh Jirawala Productions, was known for directing advertorials and music videos. He has a number of music videos to his credit, primarily in the Gujarati language. The filmmaker had also directed the 2019 film, Cocktail Premi Pag Of Revenge, starring Asha Panchal and Vruti Thakkar in lead roles. For the unversed, on June 12, Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (VT-ANB), crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The incident resulted in the death of 241 out of the 242 people on board, leaving only one survivor. Air India confirmed the accident in an official statement on X and wrote, 'UPDATE: Air India confirms that flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on 12 June 2025, was involved in an accident. The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital." First Published:
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
Pakistan used unsuspecting customers to route funds to CRPF officer: Probe
Days after the arrest of CRPF Assistant Sub-Inspector Moti Ram Jat for allegedly leaking sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence officials, Central intelligence agencies have uncovered a new layer to the espionage network — a covert funding mechanism that exploited ordinary Indian citizens. According to investigators, Pakistani officials used an unusual modus operandi to send money to Jat: instead of transferring funds directly or through their Indian handlers, they instructed unrelated individuals — mostly unsuspecting customers in business transactions — to deposit money into Jat's account, under the impression that it was part of a legitimate commercial deal. 'These were unsuspecting individuals who either struck small business deals with someone or were asked by their clients to transfer money via QR codes for services like travel bookings or currency exchange. But the account details they were given actually belonged to Moti Ram Jat,' a source with a central intelligence agency told The Indian Express. 'They had no knowledge of who Jat was or what his real role was.' This layering of transactions has made the financial trail harder to trace and added complexity to the investigation, the source said. Jat was arrested last month by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Delhi for allegedly sharing classified information with Pakistani agents posing as TV journalists. He had been posted with a CRPF battalion in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and was transferred to Delhi just five days before the April 22 terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed. The probe has revealed that over the past two years, Jat allegedly sent multiple sensitive documents to his handlers in Pakistan in exchange for regular payments — Rs 3,500 per month and occasional lump sums of up to Rs 12,000 for high-value intelligence. The funds were deposited into his and his wife's bank accounts. Following the money trail, the NIA found that deposits came from various states, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam and West Bengal. 'The pattern was clear — multiple transfers from unrelated bank accounts in different regions,' the source said. This discovery prompted simultaneous searches by NIA teams at several locations, including a shop in Alipore, a travel agency in Khidderpore, and a hotel in Park Circus in Kolkata. In one case, the owner of a travel agency was summoned for questioning over suspicious transactions. Earlier this month, the NIA confirmed the espionage links. 'The suspects had connections with Pakistani operatives, and acted as financial conduits for carrying out espionage activities in India. NIA teams have seized several electronic gadgets and sensitive financial documents, along with other incriminating materials during the searches,' the agency said in a statement. It added that several electronic devices and sensitive financial documents were seized and are being examined. According to sources, Jat has claimed that he was initially contacted by a woman who posed as a journalist from a Chandigarh-based TV channel. After regular exchanges over phone and video calls, he began sharing documents with her. A few months later, a man — allegedly a Pakistani official — took over the conversation, continuing the ruse as a fellow journalist. Payments reportedly began two to three months after initial contact and were transferred on the fourth day of every month. Investigators believe this indicates a structured and well-funded espionage operation, run from across the border but embedded within Indian financial systems using innocent intermediaries. The NIA has briefed the Ministry of Home Affairs, the CRPF, and other central agencies about the evolving methods being used by Pakistani operatives to fund and mask their activities within India.
