The Gujarat government has announced a one-day state mourning on Monday to honour former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who tragically lost his life in the Air India crash in Ahmedabad three days ago. His funeral is scheduled to take place in Rajkot on the same day.

In an official communication released on Sunday, the government stated that the national flag would be lowered to half-mast across all buildings where it is customarily flown. Additionally, no public celebrations or entertainment activities will take place during the mourning period.

Earlier on Sunday, authorities confirmed Rupani’s identity through DNA analysis, and his remains were handed over to his family.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi stated that DNA matches had confirmed the identities of 86 crash victims so far. The process of identifying the deceased continues, as many bodies were severely burnt or damaged, making traditional identification methods impossible.

According to officials, around 230 dedicated teams were deployed to assist and coordinate with the families of those who died in the disaster.

The tragic incident occurred on Thursday afternoon, when Air India Flight 171, headed from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff, slamming into the resident doctors' hostel at BJ Medical College. The crash has claimed 270 lives to date.

The ill-fated flight had 242 individuals on board, including 230 passengers, 10 crew members, and two pilots. Among the victims was Vijay Rupani, who was flying business class to visit his daughter in London.

One person, an Indian-origin British national seated on seat 11A, survived the crash and is currently under medical care. Authorities confirmed that 241 people on board died, and 29 additional fatalities were reported on the ground due to the aircraft’s impact.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) recovered the flight’s black box—a crucial device for determining the cause of the crash—28 hours after the tragedy, as confirmed by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. The device was found close to the aircraft’s tail section.

AIR INDIA ISSUES STATEMENT

In a public statement, Air India expressed deep sorrow over the loss of 241 lives aboard Flight AI171, saying, “We are in mourning for the lives lost in this unimaginable tragedy.”

The airline stated it had contacted the families and relatives of all passengers and crew, offering condolences and logistical support. Over 400 relatives have reached Ahmedabad, where Air India teams are providing on-ground assistance.

Each bereaved family in Ahmedabad has been assigned a dedicated caregiver, the airline said. Air India also confirmed it is working in coordination with other Tata Group companies to ensure affected families receive comprehensive support.

Efforts are underway to hand over the remains of victims, facilitate their transport out of Gujarat, and arrange for international repatriation where necessary.

“Family assistance centres remain operational at Ahmedabad and Mumbai airports, providing information and support to those seeking help,” the airline added.