Sikkim CM mourns Ahmedabad Air India tragedy; nation grieves as 204 killed, only one survivor

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on June 12 expressed deep sorrow over the tragic Air India plane crash that took place near Ahmedabad earlier in the day, leaving at least 204 people dead. The ill-fated Air India flight AI171 was en route to London from Ahmedabad when it crashed shortly after take-off, carrying a total of 242 people onboard, including passengers and crew members.

"I am deeply saddened by the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 near Ahmedabad. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones of all those affected. This devastating incident has left us in shock, and our thoughts are with the victims and the emergency responders working tirelessly at the scene. We stand united in grief and solidarity with the families and communities impacted by this tragedy," said CM Tamang in a statement.

According to police officials in Ahmedabad, only one passenger, identified as Ramesh Vishwakarma, miraculously survived the crash. He was seated in seat 11A, a window seat located in the first row of the economy class. He reportedly jumped out of the aircraft moments before it went up in flames. He is currently under medical treatment and is said to be in a stable condition.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with teams from the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Coast Guard working at the crash site. The aircraft crashed in a densely populated residential area, which has further complicated rescue operations. The Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, GS Malik, said that DNA testing is being conducted at B J Medical College to help identify the victims. Families have been requested to provide DNA samples to speed up the process.

The Gujarat Health Department has also issued two helpline numbers — 6357373831 and 6357373841 — for any enquiries related to the injured or missing persons. Many of the deceased have yet to be formally identified.

The Tata Group, which owns Air India, has announced a compensation of ₹1 crore for the families of those who lost their lives in the crash.

The Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu, along with senior officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airport Authority of India (AAI), and Air India, has reached the site to oversee rescue and relief efforts. He assured that all necessary steps are being taken to support the families of the victims and ensure thorough investigation.

International leaders have also expressed condolences. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was “heartbroken” by the news and offered prayers for the victims and their families. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also conveyed his condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India, calling the incident a heartbreaking tragedy.

Among the deceased were three MBBS students, as confirmed by the Indian Medical Association. Around 45 other students who were also on the flight are currently hospitalized and reported to be stable.