Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ahmedabad today to assess the situation following the tragic Air India flight AI-171 crash that occurred yesterday. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport, resulting in the loss of 241 lives, including 12 crew members.
Upon his arrival, the Prime Minister immediately visited the crash site, where he was briefed by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and other top officials. Modi surveyed the scene of devastation and expressed his sorrow at the scale of the tragedy. In a social media post, he conveyed that the country is devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad and said the loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words. He extended condolences to the bereaved families, stating that the government understands their pain and knows that the void left behind will be felt for years to come.
Following his visit to the crash site, Prime Minister Modi proceeded to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. There, he met with those injured in the crash, including Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the accident. Mr. Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. Reports indicate that Ramesh was seated in seat '11A' near an emergency exit and managed to jump out of the aircraft.
After meeting with Mr. Ramesh, the Prime Minister spoke about the experience that Mr. Ramesh went through and how he survived.
Later in the day, Prime Minister Modi held a review meeting with top officials to discuss the ongoing investigation and relief efforts. Both American and British investigation teams have been deployed to support the India-led investigation into the cause of the crash. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also increased its emergency response, deploying seven teams to the crash site.
In addition to these activities, the Prime Minister met with the family of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the passengers on the ill-fated flight. Modi expressed his condolences to the family, acknowledging his long-standing relationship with Rupani and their shared experiences.
Authorities have begun handing over the identified bodies to relatives after post-mortem examinations.