At least 265 bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of an Air India flight that crashed into a densely populated residential area in Ahmedabad, western India, on Tuesday night.
The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was carrying 242 passengers and crew when it went down shortly after take-off, killing nearly everyone on board. Among the victims were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese passengers, and one Canadian.
Authorities fear the death toll could rise further, with local officials estimating that around two dozen people may have been killed on the ground. Rescue workers, assisted by sniffer dogs, continue to comb through the debris in search of body parts and possible survivors.
In a rare stroke of luck, one passenger, British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was pulled from the wreckage alive. He is currently undergoing treatment for burns and multiple injuries at a local hospital.
Former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani, was among the high-profile victims confirmed dead in the crash.
The Indian government has launched a formal investigation into the cause of the disaster. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the probe and has already recovered the aircraft’s black box. Officials say analysis of the data could shed light on what caused the tragedy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site on Wednesday and met with grieving families. “This is a moment of profound sorrow for the entire nation,” he said, pledging full support to those affected.
In response to the incident, the government has established a high-level committee tasked with investigating the crash and recommending measures to enhance aviation safety.
Meanwhile, the Tata Group, which owns Air India, announced a compensation package of ₹1 crore (approximately £95,000) for the families of each victim.
Emergency services remain on high alert as the investigation and recovery operations continue. The cause of the crash remains unknown.
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