Air India plane crash: Local businessman recovers 70 tolas of gold and Rs 70,000 from debris
PTC Web Desk: In the aftermath of the Air India AI171 plane crash in Ahmedabad, local businessman Rajesh Patel, one of the first responders, revealed that he discovered around 70 tolas of gold (approximately 800 gram) and Rs 70,000 in cash amidst the wreckage. Patel said he immediately handed over all valuables to government officials, ensuring they would be returned to the families of the victims.
The tragic crash of the Air India Boeing 787-7 Dreamliner on June 12 into the hostel complex of BJ Medical College claimed the lives of all but one passenger on board, along with 29 persons on the ground in the Meghani Nagar area.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Patel shared that the crash site was just 300 metre from his home, and he and others rushed to the scene moments after the plane burst into flames. "Our eyes burned from the smoke and jet fuel. There was nothing visible when we arrived," he recalled.
After the fire was extinguished, Patel and other local volunteers helped retrieve bodies using makeshift stretchers made of old sarees and cloth scraps. “When it was clear no one had survived, we focused on gathering personal belongings respectfully,” he said.
Among the belongings recovered were Indian and British passports, charred mobile phones, laptops, iPads, idols of Lord Krishna, and a copy of the Bhagavad Gita. Patel also found a mobile phone still powered on, despite a shattered screen.
In total, he estimates 70–80 tolas of gold jewellery and Rs 50,000–70,000 in cash were recovered and turned in to authorities. “We didn’t click a single photo. Our only intention was to ensure that the last possessions of the deceased could be returned to their families,” he emphasised.
As most bodies were burned beyond recognition, DNA testing was launched for identification. As of Sunday night, DNA from 251 victims has been matched and 245 bodies returned to their families, according to Civil Hospital Superintendent Dr Rakesh Joshi. The remaining six, who are UK citizens, will be handed over soon.
Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, whose funeral was conducted with full state honours in Rajkot on June 16.
- With inputs from agencies
