Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the scene of the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad on Friday, meeting survivors and inspecting the widespread damage left in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed into a densely populated residential area shortly after takeoff on Thursday. All but one of those on board were killed in the fiery impact.
Authorities have yet to confirm the total number of fatalities on the ground. However, an official told the BBC that at least eight local residents are believed to have died in the crash.
The sole survivor, 40-year-old British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, was seated in 11A and is currently recovering in hospital. Speaking to Indian media, he said, “I still cannot believe how I made it out alive.” Ramesh reportedly escaped through a broken section of the aircraft, suffering burns and other injuries.
Air India has confirmed that among the victims were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British passengers, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian.
As families around the world anxiously await confirmation of their loved ones’ fate, doctors on the ground say DNA matching is being used to identify the badly burned remains. "We’re relying on samples from relatives to help with identification," one doctor told the BBC.
Prime Minister Modi, who met with hospitalised victims, has described the disaster as “heart-wrenching” and vowed full support to the families affected.
The investigation into what caused the aircraft to plummet shortly after takeoff is underway, as India grapples with one of its worst aviation disasters in recent memory.