THREE days after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, which has so far claimed 271 lives, hospital authorities confirmed on Sunday the identification of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani through DNA matching. The State Government has announced a State mourning on Monday as a mark of respect for Rupani, with the national flag flying at half-mast. Rupani’s mortal remains will be handed over to his family members on Monday morning. “His mortal remains will be taken to Rajkot for funeral, the Government said.

 

“Vijjay Rupani, Ex-Chief Minister of Gujarat passed away on June 12. As a mark of respect, the Government has decided that there will be one day of State mourning on 16th June (Monday) throughout Gujarat. The national flag will be flown at half mast on the day of mourning throughout the State… and there will be no official entertainment on the day,” a Government communication said. Three days after a London-bound Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad, authorities here have so far identified 47 victims through DNA testing and bodies of 24 have been handed over to their families, an official said on Sunday. As many of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition or damaged otherwise, authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of victims of the horrific tragedy. “A total of 47 plane crash victims have been identified so far through DNA matching.

 

Of these, bodies of 24 victims have been handed over to the respective families. These deceased were from Rajasthan and different parts of Gujarat,” Additional Civil Superintendent Dr Rajnish Patel told reporters. Rupani was among the 241 passengers killed in the horrific crash. One out of the 242 persons on board miraculously survived. “The DNA sample of former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani matched (with that of his family members) today morning at 11.10 am,” Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi told reporters in Gandhinagar. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel met the family members of Rupani and informed them about the DNA match, state Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said. “Thirty two DNA samples have matched till now, and 14 bodies have already been handed over to the respective families. These deceased were from Udaipur, Vadodara, Kheda, Mehsana, Ahmedabad and Botad districts,” said Rajnish Patel, professor of surgery at the government-run B J Medical College.