How will the Ahmedabad plane crash victims be identified as families await answers amid tragic aftermath?
In the wake of the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, authorities are now focused on the grim task of identifying the deceased. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, en route to London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The massive scale of the tragedy has complicated identification efforts, requiring the use of DNA testing to determine the identities of the victims.
DNA Testing: A Crucial Step in Victim Identification
With bodies charred beyond recognition, officials have turned to DNA profiling as the primary method for confirming the identities of those who lost their lives. Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed in the media briefing that DNA sampling is currently underway, and identification will only be finalized after this process is completed.
Dhananjay Dwivedi, Principal Secretary of Gujarat's Health Department, stated that DNA testing is being conducted at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad. Families of victims have been asked to submit DNA samples, particularly parents and children of those presumed dead. These samples are essential for comparison against tissue retrieved from the crash site.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
If you eat ginger every day for a month, your body will experience the following phenomena
Tips and Tricks
Undo
Samples are being collected at Kasoti Bhavan of BJ Medical College, with special provisions made at Civil Hospital. To assist families, helpline numbers—6357373831 and 6357373841—have been issued for inquiries related to victims and those injured.
Scientific Process Behind DNA Matching
As per Nature.com,
DNA identification
works by comparing Short Tandem Repeats (STRs)—repeating sequences in DNA that differ among individuals. While most of the human genome is similar across people, these STR regions vary and allow scientists to distinguish individuals. In India, nine core STR loci are routinely used for forensic identification. By matching these regions between samples from crash victims and their relatives, forensic teams can accurately confirm identities.
Although this method is highly reliable, it is not instantaneous. Extracting viable DNA from remains and running comparative analyses can take days, especially in mass casualty situations. Moreover, the emotional toll on families awaiting confirmation adds another layer of urgency and sensitivity.
Scene of the Crash and Current Relief Measures
Visuals from the crash site showed the aircraft engulfed in smoke and flames, with debris scattered over residential quarters near the airport. Prime Minister Narendra Modi swiftly directed Home Minister Amit Shah and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to oversee rescue efforts on the ground. According to officials, 50 people were injured in the crash, many from the Meghaninagar locality, and are being treated at Civil Hospital. All are reported to be in stable condition.
One passenger, Vishwaskumar Ramesh, miraculously survived. He was seated in 11A and was travelling with his brother. He is currently admitted in the trauma ward at the hospital.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk says space station 'too old': Even though SpaceX earns billions...I would like to go on record recommending...
Elon Musk , CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has publicly called for the International Space Station ( ISS ) to be deorbited within two years, citing "potentially serious concerns" about its long-term safety. This recommendation comes in response to revelations about the station's deteriorating structural integrity. "There are potentially serious concerns about the long-term safety of the @Space_Station. Some parts of it are simply getting too old and obviously that risk grows over time," he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "Even though SpaceX earns billions of dollars from transporting astronauts & cargo to the ISS, I nonetheless would like to go on record recommending that it be de-orbited within 2 years," Musk added. Musk's recommendation came in a reply to a post that listed out problems that the ISS is riddled with. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "The ISS's structural integrity is far more marginal than is being publicly discussed. We are having multiple, and increasingly frequent, leaks from heavily fatigued node segments in the Russian section," an X user said in a post, explaining that multiple cracks have been discovered in the ISS. NASA plans to de-orbit ISS in 2030 The ISS is set for a controlled deorbit at the end of its mission in 2030. It will be a carefully planned maneuver to ensure no populated areas on Earth are impacted. This safe return is a joint effort, shared by the five space agencies that have operated the ISS since 1998: NASA, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Russia's Roscosmos. The ISS has been continuously crewed for over 23 years since its assembly began in 1998, serving as a vital microgravity laboratory. Over these decades, NASA and its international partners have worked together to operate, maintain and upgrade its components. However, the station's operational life is ultimately limited by the lifespan of its primary structure, including modules, radiators and truss structures, which are affected by factors like spacecraft dockings and thermal cycling in orbit. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
5 of the weirdest ocean phenomena no one told you about
While oceans are often known for their tides, currents, and marine life, they also witness some rare natural events that many people don't know about. These unusual phenomena don't happen often, but when they do, they catch the attention of sailors, scientists, and people living near the coast. From glowing lights in the sky during storms to twisting water columns and strange waves caused by pressure shifts, the ocean can behave in ways that are surprising but completely real. In this article, we look at five rare but scientifically recognised ocean events that show just how unpredictable and fascinating the sea can be. Note: This list draws reference from information available on the National Ocean Service website. St. Elmo's Fire This rare phenomenon usually happens during strong storms, especially out at sea. When the air becomes highly charged with electricity, it can create a soft blue or violet glow around pointed objects like ship masts or airplane wings. This glowing effect, caused by ionised air, is known as St. Elmo's Fire. In the past, sailors saw it as a spiritual sign, but today it's understood as a natural electrical discharge that occurs during intense weather. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Walgreens Faces Worst Nightmare as 87¢ ED Pill Takes Over Health Alliance by Friday Plans Learn More Undo While it's not harmful on its own, it's a sign that a powerful thunderstorm is nearby. Fog tsunami Along some coastlines, especially in early summer, huge walls of fog can suddenly roll in, looking like a giant wave crashing over the land. This kind of fog forms when warm, moist air moves over colder ocean water, causing thick condensation. Winds then push the fog inland, making it move quickly and dramatically. These fog events are harmless but can cause serious visibility problems, often delaying flights and affecting ships at sea. They're completely natural but don't happen very often, usually showing up in places where there's a big difference between land and sea temperatures. Meteotsunamis Not all tsunamis are caused by earthquakes. In rare cases, sudden changes in air pressure– usually from fast-moving storm systems– can push ocean water and create waves that look like tsunamis. These are called meteotsunamis. They're usually smaller than earthquake-related tsunamis, but if they reach narrow places like harbours or gulfs, the waves can grow bigger and stronger as the energy gets trapped. Their size and impact depend on the weather, how fast the storm is moving, and the shape of the coastline. Waterspouts Waterspouts are spinning columns of air that stretch from the clouds down to the surface of the ocean or large lakes. There are two main types: fair-weather waterspouts, which are usually mild, and tornadoic waterspouts, which form during storms and can be much more dangerous. Tornadic waterspouts act like tornadoes over water, bringing strong winds and rough seas. Even though fair-weather waterspouts are generally weaker and don't last long, they can still pose risks to boats and smaller vessels. These are most often seen in tropical and coastal areas, including parts of India during the monsoon season. Maelstroms Maelstroms form when strong ocean currents collide, creating a spinning, whirlpool-like motion on the water's surface. While they're not as dramatic as the giant whirlpools shown in movies, real maelstroms can still be dangerous, especially for small boats or underwater gear. They usually appear in narrow channels or straits where water flow is fast and forced through tight spaces. Though not very common, maelstroms are a powerful reminder of how much force the sea can hold just beneath the surface.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Business Standard
Air India crash: What is a black box and how does it aid an investigation?
Investigating authorities on Friday located one of the two flight recorders from the London-bound Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI171) that crashed into a densely populated neighbourhood near Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad, minutes after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Investigators secured the rear-mounted device and will hand it over to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for analysis, Reuters reported. The wide-body aircraft was carrying 242 people: 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens and one Canadian. It issued a distress signal at 1.39 pm local time and climbed only to around 625 ft before disappearing from radar. Moments after radioing 'MAYDAY, MAYDAY…' to air-traffic controllers, the aircraft erupted in a fireball and crashed beyond the airport perimeter. Of all those on board, only one passenger — 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh in seat 11A — survived the impact. What is a black box? Commonly called a 'black box', an aircraft flight recorder is actually painted bright orange or yellow to aid retrieval. Developed in the early 1950s, it captures crucial data throughout a flight and is engineered to endure extreme heat, pressure, and violent impact. Australian scientist David Warren, who died in 2010, is credited with inventing the modern version that helps investigators determine why an aircraft crashes. Why is it called a black box? Long before Warren's breakthrough, French engineer François Hussenot experimented with optical data recorders that etched flight information onto photographic film sealed inside a light-proof container. Because no light could enter, the enclosure was dubbed a 'black box', a name that has endured even though modern units are brightly coloured. What is inside a black box? Key components include an aircraft-specific interface for recording and playback, an underwater locator beacon, a crash-survivable memory module capable of withstanding forces equivalent to 3,400 times gravity, and electronic circuitry housing data-storage chips. Modern systems typically combine two separate recorders: Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) – captures crew conversations, radio exchanges, and ambient cockpit sounds Flight Data Recorder (FDR) – logs over 80 parameters including altitude, airspeed, heading, engine performance, autopilot status, pitch, and roll How does a black box survive a crash? Each recorder is encased in a hardened steel or titanium shell, insulated against fire, deep-sea pressure, and sub-zero temperatures. The unit is typically mounted near the tail of the aircraft—an area that often absorbs less impact in a crash. How does it help in an investigation? By combining cockpit voice recordings with flight data, investigators can identify the root cause—be it mechanical failure, weather conditions, human error, or a combination. Decoding usually takes 10 to 15 days, after which findings are correlated with radar data, maintenance logs, and eyewitness reports. In the case of the 12 June crash, the black box should shed light on what triggered the crew's distress call and why communication ceased moments later. Origin and evolution of the flight recorder The concept gained traction in 1953 when Warren joined a task force investigating catastrophic mid-air explosions on the de Havilland Comet, the world's first commercial jet. Despite initial resistance from pilots fearing surveillance, Warren developed the ARL Flight Memory Unit in 1956, capable of storing four hours of voice and instrument data. Following two fatal crashes in 1963, Australia became the first country to mandate flight recorders on commercial aircraft—a standard now followed globally. Crucial role in past air disasters Several major air crash investigations have depended on black box data. The 2020 crash of Air India Express Flight 1344 in Kozhikode was traced to pilot error. In the 2015 Germanwings tragedy, when a co-pilot deliberately crashed an Airbus A320 into the French Alps, cockpit audio and data confirmed the cause.
