Bodies of pilot and co-pilot identified; PM Modi reaches Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD: The bodies of the pilot and co-pilot who died in the plane crash have been identified. Reports said 294 people have died in the disaster. 265 bodies have been found. The Gujarat government has asked the relatives of the victims to immediately provide the DNA samples. So far, 200 samples have been received.

The relatives of Ranjitha of Pathanamthitta, who died in the plane crash, will go to Gujarat today to receive the body. Her younger brother will reach Ahmedabad for DNA testing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Ahmedabad to assess the situation. He will visit the crash site and people undergoing treatment for injuries. The cause of the accident has not been found yet. A special squad of the NDRF has started search operations at the site. The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States will cooperate with the investigation into the plane crash.

The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had said in a press release that the cause of the accident is suspected to be a bird strike on both the engines of the aircraft.

The accident that shook the country happened at around 1.30 pm yesterday. The plane crashed into the nearby B J Medical College hostel building shortly after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport. Medical students in the hostel also lost their lives. Around 60 injured students are undergoing treatment. The dead included 24 locals. There were 242 people on board the plane, including two pilots, ten cabin crew and passengers. Of these, 169 were Indians, 53 were British citizens and seven were Portuguese citizens. One Canadian citizen was also on board.