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As grieving families await word on their loved ones’ bodies after the devastating crash of Air India flight AI171, a team of forensic experts in Gandhinagar is racing against time, reconstructing shattered identities through one of science’s most delicate processes: DNA profiling. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, has been operating tirelessly to identify victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash through DNA profiling and genetic matching.
Speaking to the media, FSL Director HP Sanghvi provided detailed insights into the painstaking process of forensic identification. “The entire process—from collecting DNA samples of victims and their families to final matching—is being carried out 24/7,” Sanghvi said.
Explaining the methodology, he noted that DNA sampling is conducted through two primary methods. “The first involves collecting fresh blood samples from relatives, which is comparatively straightforward. However, the second method—extracting DNA from the remains of the deceased—is far more complex and demands precision," he said.
Samples collected from the deceased, such as bones and teeth, are meticulously cleaned to eliminate external contamination. “If the sample is a bone, it’s powdered. If it’s a tooth, it’s broken into fragments and then powdered. The DNA is then isolated using specialised machines at controlled temperatures,” Sanghvi explained.
The extracted DNA undergoes quality and quantity analysis using RT-PCR machines. If the DNA passes these thresholds, multiple copies are generated for further testing.
The DNA strands are then separated and run through sequencing machines to generate a full genetic profile. However, Sanghvi cautioned that despite these rigorous steps, if sufficient DNA alleles are not detected, the process must be restarted. “Only when 23 alleles match between the victim and their family members can identification be confirmed,” he said.
In cases involving a match between a father and a son’s DNA samples, further Y-chromosome testing is performed to establish identity.
Sanghvi emphasised the complexity of the work: “Despite the technical challenges and time required, FSL has managed to identify a significant number of victims in record time with high accuracy.”
Meanwhile, the identity of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was officially confirmed through DNA testing three days after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171. The confirmation came at 11.10 am on Sunday, June 15, following intensive forensic analysis at the FSL lab in Gandhinagar. Rupani’s remains will be transported from Ahmedabad to Rajkot via a chartered aircraft.
Sources close to the family said that Rupani had cancelled his ticket twice before finally confirming travel for June 12. He was originally assigned seat 11G, in the same row as the lone survivor, Vishwas Kumar, but switched to 2D in business class shortly before departure. Although he typically preferred business class, he had initially chosen to fly economy to accompany the families of his close friends Nitin Bhardwaj and Dhansukh Bhanderi.
The fatal crash occurred on the morning of June 12, when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Of the 242 people on board, 241 were killed. Rupani, 68, was among the deceased. The sole survivor was 34-year-old Vishwas Kumar, a British citizen originally from Vadodara. The aircraft struck a building within the BJ Medical College campus in Meghaninagar, just over a kilometre from the runway. A massive explosion followed, engulfing part of the student hostel in flames. Several MBBS students residing in the building were among the casualties.
(With IANS inputs)