Air India mishap: Crash site becomes a spectacle, draws more than just investigators
AHMEDABAD: The allure of the macabre is irresistible. As police push a motley crowd away from the barricade at the crash site, where human remains are still being found, the group simply shifts direction.
"Agad chalo tyan thi saaru dekha se (We may get a glimpse from there)," a boy said expectantly. One of three men murmured, suggesting another vantage point - his voice a blend of morbid curiosity and sorrow.
A little further, five men attempted to climb a wall for a better view, but were quickly turned away by exhausted officers.
Ahmedabad, stunned by the crash, found itself balancing profound shock with a raw, undeniable urge to witness, as different teams continued to sweep the wreckage meticulously, searching for body parts, looking for clues, collecting what could be evidences.... Even as police urged them to step back, onlookers strained their necks and shuffled for space, seeking a glimpse. The pull to watch proved stronger than fear or sadness.
Inside the crash site, a team from
Boeing
and US delegates spent over two hours meticulously sweeping the debris, their presence underlining the global scale of the tragedy.
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (
AAIB
) was carefully recovering more human remains. There was hushed talk that teams from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (
ATS
) and
Research and Analysis Wing
(RAW) had also quietly swept the area as part of the investigation.
At Civil Hospital, the mood was tense and restless. The DNA match confirming former chief minister
Vijay Rupani
's remains brought a mix of relief and grief. Gujarat health minister Rushikesh Patel visited the hospital's 'Baarso Bed' wing, which is now the central point for post-crash coordination.
In another part of the hospital, three women arrived quietly, carrying a folded Indian flag and three bags of garlands, heading to perform final rites in silence.
At the airport, away from the crowds, a group of at least 14 technical experts worked on the black boxes, decoding the flight's final moments from its voice and data recorders.
In the hours following the AI-171 crash, Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel oversaw a swift, organised response. District collectors personally contacted families of victims. The state quickly appointed nodal officers to guide families through insurance and compensation procedures. Helpdesks from
New India Assurance
,
HDFC Life
, and
LIC
were set up at Civil Hospital, along with an IRDAI-mandated joint cell to streamline the claims process.
Twelve teams worked round the clock on DNA sampling, collecting over 250 blood samples from relatives and residents. So far, 62 DNA matches have been confirmed, and 35 mortal remains-including eight identified without DNA testing-have been handed over to families.
More than 250 nodal and assistant nodal officers are assisting families through the process, even escorting remains for final rites.
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First Post
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How is the Air India investigation unfolding? Why are UK, US involved?
At least 270 people were killed after a London-bound Air India flight, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI 171) crashed at the Ahmedabad airport on June 12 just moments after taking off. The Centre has constituted a high-level committee to examine the causes of the crash and experts from Boeing as well as teams from the UK and the US are aiding the investigation read more Parts of an Air India plane that crashed on Thursday are seen on top of a building in Ahmedabad, India. AP The investigation into the Air India plane crash is on. At least 270 people were killed after a London-bound Air India flight, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI 171) crashed at the Ahmedabad airport on June 12 just moments after taking off. Two-hundred and forty-one people of 242 aboard were killed in the incident. The lone survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian-origin, is currently being treated in a hospital. This was the first Dreamliner crash since its commercial debut in 2011. 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The Committee will examine the existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines issued to prevent and handle such occurrences and suggest comprehensive guidelines for dealing with such instances in the future,' the order issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday read. Experts from Boeing and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) arrived in Gujarat on Sunday to examine the crash site. So did a 10-member team from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The (AAIB), which probes aircraft accidents and incidents, found the black box – which comprises the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) – of the plane 28 hours after the tragedy, according to Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After a plane crash, the black box becomes the most important tool for investigators. Reuters Their contents, which are currently being analysed, could help unlock the mystery of the crash. Graham Braithwaite, an aviation professor at Cranfield University in England, told The Guardian, 'The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder will tell us a lot – assuming they are undamaged … and help the industry know how best to react in the short term.' He said the focus would be on 'making sure they don't lose evidence from the site during recovery efforts, or from the hangar, airport or training records'. 'The team can involve specialists from the manufacturer or operator … but under very strict controls to ensure the independence of the investigation.' Investigators are also looking at CCTV footage from BJ Medical College as well as Ahmedabad Airport. Footage of the crash recorded by a local named Vijay is also being looked at. While bird hit remains a possible theory, investigators are yet to find any proof of it. 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'The AAIB has launched a detailed investigation, and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting a parallel probe under international protocols, since the aircraft is American-made,' US officials said in a statement on Sunday. Meanwhile, experts from the UK are joining because of the large number of British citizens on board the aircraft. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Maybe we will be able to speak later. We saw what you guys can see. It's just the same, as you can see from here,' one of the team members said. Daksha Patni mourns for her relative Akash Patni, 14, who died when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft crashed during take-off from an airport, outside the postmortem room at a hospital, in Ahmedabad. Reuters Boeing's chief Kelly Ortberg in a statement said the company 'stands ready to support' the AAIB in its investigation. Meanwhile, the toll from the plane crash touched 270 on Saturday. 'Around 270 bodies have been brought to the civil hospital so far from the plane crash site,' Dr Dhaval Gameti,president of Junior Doctors' Association of BJ Medical College, said. The plane that crashed on Thursday flew for the first time in 2013 and was delivered to Air India in January 2014, Flightradar24 said. The passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. With inputs from agencies
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India.com
38 minutes ago
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Do you know women drink more alcohol than men in these Indian states…, not Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai, they are….
Do you know women drink more alcohol than men in these Indian states…, not Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai, they are…. Women and Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol-based beverages such as beer, whisky, wine, etc. are among the most consumed beverages in the world. These drinks are the centre of attraction at every party or gathering. It is believed that men consume more alcoholic beverages than women. In India, men do consume more alcoholic beverages than women, but there are some Indian states where women drink more alcohol than men. It is said that in India, men need an excuse to drink alcohol. Here, alcohol is not only consumed during celebrations or get-togethers but also on weekends. Here Are Indian States Where Women Consume The Most Alcohol As per National Family Health Survey 2019-21, the increase in alcohol consumption among women depends on several factors. The reasons include – local traditions, changing lifestyles, and social acceptance. In tribal areas, the consumption of alcohol is an everyday ritual. The same trend followed in cities also due to reasons like stress, the prevalence of alcohol consumption is increasing among women. The Indian state which topped the list is Arunachal Pradesh. The alcohol drinking rate among women here is 24.2%. In Sikkim, 16.2% of women consume alcohol. They prefer to drink a popular local beer called Chhaang. Assam is third in the list. Here, 7.3% women consume alcohol. People, specially women consume whiskey. A Telangana study reveals that 6.7% of women consume alcohol, with rural women exhibiting higher rates than their urban counterparts. Alcohol consumption is prevalent in both celebratory and stressful situations within the state. A study in Jharkhand reveals that 6.1% of women consume alcohol, with this practice often linked to cultural rituals in several tribal communities.
