Mumbai: In a tragic confirmation, Union Minister and Gujarat BJP president CR Patil announced on Thursday that former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among those killed in the Air India Flight AI171 crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
“Our leader, former Chief Minister Vijaybhai Rupani, was travelling on this flight to visit his family. He too perished in this tragedy. May God grant peace to his soul,” Patil said emotionally while addressing reporters.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, headed for London Gatwick, was carrying 242 passengers and crew when it crashed into a densely populated area of Meghani Nagar, near BJ Medical College. The site witnessed horrific scenes as rescue teams scrambled through debris and flames.
While initial reports painted a grim picture of zero survivors, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed a miraculous rescue. “Rescuers have located one survivor in seat 11A who is currently receiving medical treatment. The casualty count remains uncertain as the aircraft impacted a populated area,” he said.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have reportedly left for Ahmedabad to personally assess the situation and monitor relief efforts.
