National: Ahmedabad has been plunged into an unprecedented tragedy after an Air India flight bound for London crashed yesterday afternoon, June 12, marking India’s deadliest aviation disaster. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 souls, plummeted to the ground shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport, slamming into a medical college hostel and igniting a colossal inferno. Only one person on board, Vishwaskumar Ramesh, miraculously survived the devastating impact.
The scene at the crash site is one of utter devastation. Rescue teams faced temperatures soaring to an unimaginable 1,000 degrees Celsius, fuelled by the explosion of over 1.25 lakh litres of jet fuel. Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the fire’s intensity as making it “impossible to save anyone.” The crash, occurring during lunchtime, led to additional casualties on the ground as the plane tore through the hostel block.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ahmedabad this morning, June 13, to assess the grim situation and is expected to visit those injured in local hospitals. The ill-fated flight was carrying 230 passengers, comprising 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and a Canadian, along with 12 crew members. Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Vishwaskumar Ramesh, the sole survivor, was seated in row 11A.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that the aircraft had issued a Mayday call moments before communication was lost. A formal investigation into the catastrophic event is now underway, spearheaded by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, adhering strictly to international aviation protocols. In the wake of this immense loss, the Tata Group has announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of each deceased individual.
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