Days after the Air India AI-717 plane crash in Ahmedabad, the authorities have asked eight families to submit the DNA sample of another relative as the previous ones failed to match, reported PTI.
Ahmedabad-based filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala’s mortal remains were handed over to his family only after the matching of DNA samples confirmed that he died in the catastrophe. he was reported missing following the June 12 air crash.
Earlier on 12 June, the London-bound Air India flight AI-171 carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed in Ahmedabad moments after it off from the city airport. In the crash 241 were killed on board and 29 on the ground as the aircraft smashed into a medical complex in Meghaninagar.
With some bodies were burnt beyond recognition or damaged otherwise, authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of victims of the horrific tragedy.
According to the details, DNA samples of 231 deceased have been matched and 210 bodies handed over to families till Friday. While, families of eight victims have been asked to give a sample of another relative for DNA tests after the first one did not match.
“Unless there is a match, bodies cannot be handed over to the kin, ” Ahmedabad Civil Hospital’s medical superintendent Rakesh Joshi told PTI.
“When there is no match for a longer period of time, then you can ask another sample from another relative. If one sibling has given the sample, then a sample of another sibling is sought for matching the DNA with that of the victim,” he said.
“We generally prefer a sample of father or son/daughter. If not, then we take a sample of another available member,” Joshi added.
Joshi added that at least eight such families are there whose first sample has not matched, so another sample was sought.
He said that since the DNA matching process is highly sensitive and involves legal protocols, it is being conducted with utmost seriousness and speed.
To ease the lengthy process, Forensic Science University, along with associated institutions, local administrative authorities, the state government’s health and other departments, and various agencies are working tirelessly.
About Jariwala:
In the meantime, police said through the matching of DNA samples it has been confirmed that filmmaker Jirawala has died in the plane crash. He was passing by from the area on his two-wheeler just when the London-bound plane plunged into a hostel complex.
Confirming the DNA test, Joint Commissioner of Police, Sector 2, Jaipalsinh Rathore said that the filmmaker died as a result of the plane crash, but his family members were still in disbelief. The police then collected and presented other evidence, such as CCTV footage of the road and his burnt scooter, in order to clear their doubts.
“Jirawala’s family took his body on Friday after the DNA test confirmed his identity. His scooter, which was destroyed in the fire, was also recovered from near the crash site. The chassis and engine number also matched with the registration documents of the scooter,” he said.
“To clear his family’s doubts, we collected CCTV footage of that area to establish that he was indeed using that route for some time. His last mobile location was last traced close to the accident site,” the officer added.
After the crash, Jariwala’s mobile phone got switched off and he never returned home as he had promised to his wife Hetal. She later said that her husband was also known as Mahesh Kalavadiya, was a filmmaker and used to direct music albums.
As per the details, Jirawala went to meet someone at the Law Garden area on the day of plane crash. He called his wife at 1.14 pm and told her that his meeting was over and that he was on his way home. However, when he did not return.
During the investigation, the police discovered that his mobile phone’s last location was 700 metres away from the crash site.
AI crew members’ bodies handed over to kin:
Relatives and friends gave an emotional farewell to Deepak Pathak and Irfan Shaikh, two crew members of the ill-fated flight, in Maharashtra’s Badlapur in Thane district and Pimpri-Chinchwad near Pune city, respectively.
Deepak Pathak’s body was consigned to flames at a crematorium in the presence of thousands of mourners. He had been serving the national carrier for the past 11 years and his identification was confirmed through DNA testing.
While, Pimpri Chinchwad-based Shaikh family had received Irfan’s remains after a DNA match on Friday. It was brought to Pune and his last rites were held at a graveyard in Nehru Nagar in the presence of family, neighbours, friends, and leaders from across political parties.