AHMEDABAD, June 18: Authorities have so far identified 190 of the 271 victims from the devastating Air India Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, with DNA tests playing a crucial role due to the charred state of many bodies. Of these, 159 bodies—including 32 foreign nationals—have already been handed over to their families, according to officials.
The London-bound flight tragically crashed into a medical complex shortly after takeoff on June 12, killing nearly everyone on board and claiming the lives of 29 people on the ground. The crash left only one onboard survivor and injured 71 others, several of whom remain hospitalized.
Among the victims confirmed through DNA testing is Lamnunthem Singson, a young woman from Kangpokpi, Manipur. Her identity was verified on Wednesday morning, bringing both long-awaited closure and renewed grief to her family and community. The tragic news was formally communicated to her relatives, who are currently in Ahmedabad to complete final procedures for repatriating her remains.
The final journey is expected to begin tomorrow morning, with the body flown to Dimapur, pending flight confirmation. From there, it will be escorted via National Highway 2 to Kangpokpi, where her community awaits to mourn and pay their final respects.
Dr. Rakesh Joshi, Medical Superintendent at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, confirmed the status of the recovery and identification efforts: “Out of the 159 bodies handed over, 127 were Indian nationals, including 123 passengers and four people killed on the ground. The rest include 27 British citizens, four Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian.”
He added that 71 people had been hospitalized after the incident. “Only seven are still under treatment at the Civil Hospital, while 12 are being treated at private hospitals. Unfortunately, three injured persons succumbed during treatment.”
The Gujarat government had previously announced that DNA samples from 250 victims were collected to assist in the identification process, a task complicated by the severity of the crash and condition of the bodies.
