Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Thursday expressed deep sorrow over the catastrophic Air India Flight AI171 crash near Ahmedabad that claimed at least 204 lives, leaving the nation in mourning. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was headed for London with 242 people onboard, including passengers and crew, when it crashed shortly after takeoff. “I am deeply saddened by the tragic crash… We stand united in grief and solidarity,” CM Tamang stated, offering condolences to the families of the victims and lauding emergency personnel working at the scene.
Miraculously, one passenger, Ramesh Vishwakarma, survived. Seated at 11A, he reportedly jumped out before the aircraft burst into flames. He is under medical care and said to be stable. The crash occurred in a densely populated residential area, complicating rescue operations led by the Indian Army, NDRF, CRPF, and Coast Guard. Authorities are conducting DNA testing at B J Medical College to identify victims, urging families to provide samples. The Gujarat Health Department has set up helplines (6357373831 / 6357373841) for inquiries.
The Tata Group, which owns Air India, announced ₹1 crore compensation per deceased victim’s family. Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu and top officials from DGCA and AAI are overseeing rescue and investigation at the site. Among the deceased were three MBBS students, while 45 others remain hospitalized. Condolences have poured in globally, including from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, both expressing heartbreak over the tragedy.