One year has passed since the devastating crash of Air India flight AI171, which was travelling from Ahmedabad to London when it crashed into the hostel complex of BJ Medical College. The tragedy claimed the lives of 260 people, including 241 passengers and crew members on board the aircraft and 19 individuals who were on the ground when the crash occurred. Despite the passage of time, the precise circumstances that led to the disaster—considered one of the deadliest aviation accidents in India's history—continue to be investigated by the relevant authorities.
As the first anniversary of the tragedy is observed, two senior officials who played central roles in the emergency response have shared their memories of those harrowing hours and the unprecedented rescue, recovery, and identification efforts that followed. These officials are Dr Rakesh Joshi, Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, and GS Malik, who was serving as Ahmedabad Police Commissioner at the time of the crash and is now the Director General of Police of Gujarat.
Recalling the day of the disaster, DDrRakesh Joshi said June 12, 2025, had started as a completely ordinary day. He was performing a surgical procedure when, at approximately 1:45 pm, the hospital's Chief Security Officer contacted him about a large plume of black smoke rising near the hospital campus. Initially, it appeared that a major fire might have broken out somewhere nearby.
Dr Joshi said he requested confirmation of the situation before taking further action. However, within moments, another call arrived with shocking news: an aircraft had crashed into the hostel area of BJ Medical College. Realising the magnitude of the incident, he immediately transferred responsibility for the ongoing surgery to other doctors and rushed toward the emergency response area.
As more details emerged, officials learned that the aircraft involved was an international passenger flight. Anticipating a large number of casualties due to the crash site's close proximity to the hospital, DDr. Joshi instructed all available doctors and medical personnel to report to the trauma centre without delay.
He remembered that the first injured person brought to the trauma centre had suffered severe burn injuries. According to the survivor, the aircraft had crashed directly into the students' mess area of the hostel complex. Remarkably, despite his injuries, the patient had managed to walk into the trauma centre on his own.
Initially, medical teams hoped that many passengers and victims might have survived the crash with injuries. During the first hour, hospitals received several burn victims and individuals suffering from fractures and trauma. However, those hopes gradually faded as the true scale of the tragedy became apparent. Soon, ambulances and emergency teams began bringing in completely charred bodies, which were transferred directly to the post-mortem department.
Dr Droshi said the hospital quickly became overwhelmed with anxious relatives and friends seeking information about their loved ones. News of the crash had spread rapidly, and family members began arriving from the airport and surrounding areas. Many were desperate for answers, but at that stage, very little information was available.
One of the biggest challenges that emerged was identifying the deceased. Since many bodies had been severely damaged by the crash and subsequent fire, traditional methods of identification were impossible. As a result, DNA analysis became the primary means of confirming identities. This required extensive coordination between forensic experts, police authorities, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), and family members who had to provide DNA samples for comparison.
According to Dr Joshi, senior government officials responded swiftly to the tragedy. The Chief Minister arrived at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital within two hours of the crash, while the Home Minister visited later that evening. The following morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited to review the situation and meet officials involved in the relief efforts.
DDrJoshi stated that the instructions given to all departments were straightforward but critical: identify the victims as quickly as possible and ensure that their remains were returned to families with dignity and respect. Within 48 hours, the first DNA match reports began arriving from the Forensic Science Laboratory, allowing authorities to begin handing over identified bodies to relatives.
Once a DNA match was confirmed, families were contacted and asked to visit the hospital. Documentation was carefully verified before the mortal remains were released. Separate help desks were established to handle formalities such as death certificates, DNA reports, forensic documentation, and videography records. Coffins were arranged for transportation, while police escorts ensured that bodies were transported safely to locations requested by family members.
Dr Joshi explained that an enormous number of individuals and organisations worked together throughout the operation. Doctors, nurses, police officers, municipal workers, forensic experts, volunteers, and non-governmental organisations collaborated continuously to manage the situation. Through these efforts, 254 of the victims were identified through DNA matching over a period of approximately 16 to 17 days. The remaining six victims were identifiable through other means and were handed over to their families earlier.
He described the identification process as the most difficult aspect of the operation. In numerous cases, the remains were so severely damaged that visual recognition was impossible. DNA testing became the only reliable method, though the process required considerable time and technical precision.
Apart from logistical and forensic challenges, authorities also had to address the emotional and psychological needs of grieving families. Dr Joshi said counselling services were arranged for relatives, including some families who had lost multiple members or entire households in the disaster. Hospital staff and support teams worked not only to complete official procedures but also to provide emotional support during an unimaginably painful period.
GS Malik, who was serving as Ahmedabad Police Commissioner when the crash occurred, also reflected on the events of that day. He noted that the crash site was located only about 200 metres from his residence.
Initially, he received information suggesting that there had been a cylinder explosion. However, within seconds, the situation became clearer when officials confirmed that an aircraft had crashed.
Malik immediately headed to the site and arrived within approximately 15 minutes. What he encountered, he said, was one of the most distressing scenes of his career. Emergency responders had already begun moving victims, and ambulances were transporting bodies to hospitals by the time he arrived.
Recognising the urgency of the situation, he ordered the immediate creation of a green corridor to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital so that ambulances and emergency vehicles could move without delay. Firefighters and rescue personnel from multiple agencies were already engaged in efforts to control the aftermath of the crash and search for survivors.
Understanding that Civil Hospital would soon face an overwhelming influx of victims and relatives, Malik directed a substantial police deployment to the facility. Around 200 police personnel who had been assigned to administrative responsibilities were reassigned to support hospital operations and maintain order.
Special police teams were also formed to assist in collecting DNA blood samples from relatives and ensuring that these samples reached forensic laboratories promptly for analysis. According to Malik, rapid coordination between various agencies proved essential in handling a disaster of such magnitude.
He emphasised that the response from all departments was remarkably swift. The first victim's body was handed over to family members within approximately 20 hours of the crash. Shortly thereafter, the first DNA-confirmed identification was completed. By 3:19 pm on the second day following the disaster, the first officially identified victim had been released to relatives within 50 hours of the crash.
Malik noted that authorities made a conscious effort to simplify the process for grieving families. All necessary documentation—including DNA reports, post-mortem reports, and death certificates—was provided at the time the bodies were handed over. This eliminated the need for families to make repeated visits to government offices during an already traumatic period.
He pointed out that 254 of the 260 victims required DNA-based identification, making the operation one of the largest forensic identification exercises undertaken in the country. Such a complex process, he said, was possible only because of close coordination among Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, the Collector's Office, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, forensic experts, and law enforcement agencies.
Malik also revealed that he was a member of the five-person committee established after the crash to examine various aspects of the incident and response. According to him, the committee has already submitted its report to the government. Any further details regarding the findings or recommendations will be released by the relevant authorities at an appropriate stage.
A year after the catastrophe, the memories of the crash remain vivid for those who responded to it. While the investigation into the cause of the disaster continues, the rescue workers, doctors, police officers, forensic experts, and countless support personnel involved in the operation are remembered for their efforts to bring order, dignity, and compassion to one of the darkest moments in India's aviation history.
