Six bereaved families received a second set of mortal remains from the tragic AI 171 crash, handed over by the Civil Hospital. For some, this development may culminate in an unthinkable ritual—a second funeral for the same loved one.
These newly discovered remains were among the 16 additional fragments unearthed at the Meghaninagar wreckage site during the ongoing post-disaster clearance operations. The remains were confirmed through DNA matches with samples previously submitted by relatives.
The families—hailing from various parts of Gujarat including Anand, Nadiad, and Ahmedabad—had previously instructed hospital authorities to notify them if any further DNA matches surfaced.
A consent form had been circulated among the kin of the deceased, including passengers, crew, doctors, their family members, and even local residents, according to sources close to the matter. An official revealed to a media outlet that the form sought permission to carry out the last rites of remains that may be found during further clearing of the spot or during medical analysis.
Unnamed officials form Air India revealed that, of the remaining 10 victims, nine families have given consent for the hospital to carry out the final rites. However, one family’s response is still awaited.
The new sets of remains are minuscule compared to the first, explained an official familiar with the procedure. Some consisted of parts of the body, while others included one or more bones, and suggested that the severe nature of the crash may have caused such fragmentation due to the intense distress experienced by the victims’ bodies.
The official added that although it was uncommon for a person to have more than one funeral, in this instance, the families possessed both the DNA match and the official certificate of handover of the mortal remains. Therefore, holding more than one funeral for the same individual would not present any issue.
At the end of June, Gujarat’s health department placed the AI 171 air crash death toll at 260. This figure comprises 229 passengers and 12 crew members aboard the doomed flight, totalling 241 lives lost in the sky. An additional 19 people perished on the ground.
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