Air India Flight AI171 crashes into BJ Medical College hostel, killing 241 passengers and 24 on the ground, including medical students. PM Modi visits, mourns a shattered nation.
Ahmedabad, June 13: A veil of sorrow cloaks Ahmedabad. Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London, crashed into a medical college hostel just 30 seconds after takeoff. The disaster claimed 265 lives—241 of the 242 passengers and crew aboard, and 24 on the ground, including five medical students. The lone survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, battles for life in hospital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his voice heavy with grief, visited the wreckage and consoled families, calling the tragedy “a wound too deep for words.”
Catastrophe in Seconds
At 1:38 p.m., Flight AI171 roared down the runway of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. A mayday call crackled through to air traffic control. Then, silence. The plane, carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, slammed into the BJ Medical College hostel in Meghaninagar. A fireball erupted, swallowing the building in flames. Among the ground victims were five MBBS students—identified as Anil Sharma, Priya Patel, Rohan Desai, Kavita Meena, and Siddhant Rao—eating lunch in the hostel mess. Nineteen others, including resident doctors and staff, also perished. “It was like the sky fell,” sobbed a witness, hands trembling.
Discrepancies in Death Toll
Confusion clouds the exact toll. Air India confirmed 241 fatalities among the 242 onboard, with Vishwash Kumar Ramesh as the sole survivor. However, Times of India reported 265 deaths, aligning with police counts that include 24 ground victims. CNN cited a senior doctor estimating “at least 290,” possibly accounting for unconfirmed ground casualties. Reuters initially reported 294 but later revised to over 240, citing double-counted remains. Deputy Commissioner Kanan Desai clarified, “265 bodies have been counted, but DNA testing will confirm the final toll.” The process, agonizingly slow, leaves families in limbo.
A Nation’s Heartbreak
PM Modi’s words mirrored a nation’s anguish. “We are all devastated,” he posted on X. “The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words. Om Shanti.” At Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital, he met Ramesh, a British national seated in 11A near an emergency exit, who miraculously escaped. Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, a loss that stunned political circles. His wife, Anjali, arrived in Gandhinagar, her face etched with grief. “The void left behind will haunt us,” Modi said, voice breaking.
Global Mourning, Local Heroes
Condolences flooded in. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the scenes “devastating,” mourning 53 British nationals. King Charles III sent prayers, praising responders’ bravery. Russia’s Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump, and Singapore’s Lawrence Wong expressed solidarity. On the ground, six NDRF teams and sniffer dogs scoured the wreckage. “We’re racing against time,” said NDRF’s Hariom Gandhi. A mother, Ramila, wept with relief—her son jumped from the hostel’s second floor, surviving with injuries.
Probing the Unthinkable
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau leads the probe, joined by US and UK experts. One black box has been recovered, per Hindustan Times, holding secrets to the crash’s cause. Speculation points to engine failure or high temperatures. “The 787’s safety record is stellar; this is unprecedented,” said aviation expert John McDermid. Air India announced ₹1 crore per victim’s family, plus ₹1.5 crore under the Montreal Convention. CEO Campbell Wilson, mobbed by media at the site, vowed support but stayed mum on details.
Scars That Linger
Ahmedabad’s skies fell silent, the airport partially reopened. The crash, India’s deadliest since 2014, left plates of uneaten food in the hostel canteen—a haunting snapshot of lives cut short. Bhoomi Chauhan, who missed the flight by 10 minutes, thanked her “mother goddess,” tears streaming. As DNA tests identify remains, families cling to fading hopes. “The pain is unbearable,” said Ashfaque Nanabawa, searching for his cousin’s family. Ahmedabad weeps, but its spirit endures, united in grief and resolve.
