Latest news with #AlokKumarPandey
Scroll.in
17 hours ago
- Scroll.in
DNA confirms identities of 31 killed in Ahmedabad plane crash
The identities of 31 persons who died in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 have been confirmed through DNA testing, The Indian Express reported on Sunday. The bodies of twelve persons have been handed over to their families after the identification. DNA matching is underway for several victims, The Hindu quoted Dr Rajnish Patel, professor of surgery at BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad as saying. On June 12, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, which was en route to London's Gatwick airport from Ahmedabad, crashed just 33 seconds after taking off, killing at least 265 people. This is being viewed as the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade. There were 242 people aboard the aircraft. One passenger survived with ' impact injuries '. The passengers comprised 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian national. The rest were crew members. Though the number of people killed on the ground has yet to be ascertained, the police said that 265 bodies had been sent for postmortem examination. This includes at least four medical students who were killed on the ground when the aircraft crashed into the hostel building of the BJ Medical College. On Saturday, Alok Kumar Pandey, commissioner of relief and secretary, Revenue Department told The Hindu that the Gujarat government had established contact with the families of 11 foreign nationals. Pandey added that death certificates were being issued on the spot to avoid any inconvenience to the families. On Friday, the black box of the Air India plane was recovered from the roof of the hostel building at the medical college. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, a division of the Ministry of Civil Aviation has started its investigation into the disaster. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Friday ordered enhanced safety checks of all Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft in Air India's fleet. The airline operates 33 such aircraft and the checks will include inspections of fuel systems, engine controls, cabin air compressors, oil systems, hydraulics and flight control systems.
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Ahmedabad plane crash: Last remains of crash victims begin to reach families
The process of handing over the last remains of the victims of Air India's Boeing 787 crash to their families kicked off on Saturday (June 14, 2025), and a total of 11 victims have been identified through DNA testing, according to the Gujarat government. Two days since the crash, one more body that had been stuck beneath the tail portion of the crashed aircraft was recovered on Saturday, according to Dr. Rajnish Patel, Head of Surgery, at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, who jointly addressed a press conference with Gujarat government's Relief Commissioner and Secretary, Revenue Department, Alok Kumar Pandey. However, there was still no official confirmation of the deaths beyond the 241 deaths of passengers and crew aboard the aircraft that crashed into the mess building where students of B.J. Medical College (BJMC) were assembled for lunch, and four columns of hostel buildings, where there have been several deaths. 'Meticulously slow process' Dr. Patel confirmed that 11 DNA matches have been verified, and the families of those victims had been contacted. 'We handed over one body to family members this morning, with two more to be released by evening.' He described the DNA matching exercise as a 'meticulously slow process' that typically required 72 hours for completion. When The Hindu asked him about the total number of crash victims' bodies at the hospital, Dr. Patel deflected the question, saying, 'I don't have that data.' When enquired about the number of families who had arrived at the hospital to provide DNA samples and claim the bodies of their loved ones, he again said he did not have the information available with him. Earlier, eight visually identifiable victims were released to relatives without the need for DNA analysis. To expedite the DNA matching process, Gujarat's Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, held a meeting with officials of the State Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) on Saturday. 'Apart from forensic experts from across Gujarat, several experts sent by the Centre are working round the clock to match DNA samples. As soon as the results are ready, they are sent to the Civil Hospital so that families can claim the bodies,' he said. Reaching out to families According to Alok Kumar Pandey, Relief Commissioner and Secretary, Revenue Department, the State government had established contact with the families of 11 foreign nationals. 'A total of 230 teams have been formed to establish contact and hand over the mortal remains to the families. We began handing over the bodies today,' he said. Mr. Pandey added that the victims from Gujarat hailed from 18 districts and that the administration was also in touch with diplomats of other countries. Death certificates were also being issued to the families on the spot. 'Each body will be escorted to its native place in an ambulance with police protection. Grief counsellors are also being provided to help families cope with the trauma,' he added. Speaking about the condition of the lone survivor from among the 242 aboard the Air India aircraft, Dr. Patel said: 'He is a lucky man. His condition is stable, and he can walk and talk normally.' Airline extends help A day after Air India and Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran visited Ahmedabad, the airline's CEO Campbell Wilson met with the families of the deceased. The airline also announced an immediate financial support of ₹25 lakh to each of the families of the deceased as well as survivors, in addition to the sum of ₹1 crore announced earlier. The airline's technical and customer support team was in Ahmedabad's BJ Medical College. Over 200 trained caregivers were also deployed to support each family in different ways, including access to counselling.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Night traffic banned on Almora-Haldwani highway due to landslide risk
Bageshwar: A nighttime traffic restriction has been implemented on the Almora-Haldwani national highway near the Kwarab region, following persistent landslides and deteriorating road conditions exacerbated by the rains and the current tourist season, endangering travellers and affecting regional commerce and tourism. According to the order given by the district administration, vehicular movement is prohibited from 11pm to 5am starting Tuesday through June 18, and encompasses all vehicle categories. District magistrate Alok Kumar Pandey said, "The road is not safe for night travel due to ongoing landslides. In the interest of public safety, we are enforcing this ban strictly under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Any violation will be taken seriously, and the concerned police or checkpoint officials will be held accountable for incidents during the restricted hours." The DM added that emergency vehicles and ambulances are exempt from these restrictions. "Under exceptional circumstances, the sub-divisional magistrate, circle officer, or district disaster management officer may authorise movement during the restricted period," he said. Additionally, a severely unstable 200-metre hillside portion near the Kwarab bridge has been identified and authorities have positioned heavy equipment, including poclains, JCBs, and tippers, for hill-cutting and clearing debris. Road surface improvements are also ongoing to enhance stability. The Kwarab section on the Almora-Haldwani highway serves as a vital connection between the plains and the Kumaon hill districts with hundreds of vehicles carrying goods, tourists, and residents daily. The route has witnessed consistent rockfalls and slope deterioration throughout the last 10 months, and remains susceptible despite interim repairs, with no lasting resolution established so far. The circumstances have become more concerning during the current tourist season, resulting in heightened safety issues and operational difficulties.
