DNA Identification Drive Accelerated for Air India Crash Victims, Says Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi

Gandhinagar: In the aftermath of the tragic Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi on Saturday assured the public that efforts to identify the victims through DNA matching are being fast-tracked with the support of central forensic teams.

Speaking to the media from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar, Sanghvi said, “Today a meeting was organised in the Forensic Science Laboratory with the entire Forensic Science Gujarat team, which is working to match the DNA of every family as soon as possible. The Indian government has also sent major help in the form of forensic experts.”

The Gujarat government, in coordination with the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) and central authorities, is speeding up the identification process for the 241 victims who tragically lost their lives when the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off.

“After this, we will visit the National Forensic Science University. We are working on fast-tracking the process,” Sanghvi added.

The DNA samples from the crash site and the victims’ relatives are being processed under priority protocols, with round-the-clock teams engaged in matching profiles.

As the remains of many passengers were severely burned in the crash, DNA matching has become essential for accurate identification. The authorities are also coordinating with families across India and abroad, especially in the UK, where several victims were from.