Subtitle:
Grieving relatives in Britain anxiously await word as authorities work to match remains from crash site
News Report:
Families in the United Kingdom are anxiously waiting for confirmation on the identities of their loved ones following the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed the lives of over 200 passengers earlier this week. Many of the victims were non-resident Indians traveling back home or connecting through India, and several hailed from various cities across the U.K.
Authorities in India have begun the process of DNA matching to help identify the severely charred and unrecognizable remains recovered from the crash site. British officials, in coordination with Indian agencies, are assisting families with the repatriation process and ensuring they receive timely updates.
“We have provided DNA samples and are just waiting for that call. The not knowing is the hardest part,” said Meena Patel, whose cousin was on the ill-fated flight. Like many others, her family had booked travel during the summer to reunite with relatives in Gujarat.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that samples collected from families have been sent to a high-priority forensic lab in New Delhi. However, due to the intensity of the crash and the condition of the remains, the identification process is expected to take several more days.
Air India officials have stated that the airline is fully cooperating with the investigation and is in direct contact with families. Special support teams have been deployed at major airports, including London Heathrow, to provide updates and psychological counseling to next of kin.
British High Commission staff are also stationed in Ahmedabad to support the identification efforts and help facilitate the return of remains once confirmed.
The crash has shocked Indian communities abroad, especially in the U.K., where Air India is a common carrier for those with family ties in India. Several memorial services are already being planned in London, Birmingham, and Leicester, where many of the victims had lived or worked.
As families continue to wait, the mood remains somber, marked by grief, uncertainty, and a shared hope for closure.