More than three days have passed since Imtiyaz Ali provided a DNA sample, yet he finds himself grappling with the painful uncertainty of receiving his brother’s remains, who tragically lost his life in the recent Air India crash.
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“My 72 hours are over, but I’ve not heard from them so far,” Mr. Ali expressed, surrounded by fellow relatives in Ahmedabad, where families of the victims have gathered in the wake of this heart-wrenching disaster.
Of the 242 individuals aboard the aircraft, only one survived the crash that occurred on Thursday, which also claimed the lives of at least 38 people on the ground. Health officials have cautioned that the process of matching blood samples with the DNA of the deceased is expected to be slow, with only 47 identifications made by this evening.
“In a situation like this, Air India should have mobilized immediately,” he said. “They had a duty to appoint the necessary personnel to ensure we had the support and guidance we needed with all the paperwork.” He emphasized, “Whatever it took, they should have acted swiftly within hours of the accident.” This sentiment was further fueled by his recent designation as a support person by the airline.
In response, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson assured families in a video message, stating, “We have over 200 trained caregivers now in place, each family assigned dedicated assistance.” This move is aimed at providing some solace amid the overwhelming grief.
While some families have already held funerals, many are still in the agonizing wait for DNA matches before the remains can be released from the mortuary.
When approached for comments regarding criticisms from the grieving families, the airline redirected inquiries to previous statements outlining its response to the tragic event.
Rinal Christian, whose older brother was on the flight, shares her family’s ordeal, saying they keep returning to the hospital only to be told to wait. “They said it would take 48 hours. But now it’s been four days and we haven’t received any response,” the 23-year-old lamented. Lawrence Christian had flown to Ahmedabad from London to attend to family matters following their father’s death.
“After my father, my brother was the sole breadwinner of the family. I’m still studying, my mother doesn’t work, and we have our grandmother too. What happens next?” she questioned, voicing the uncertainty that many families are facing.
While Air India and its parent company, the Tata Group, have pledged financial assistance totaling $146,000 for each affected family, Rinal shared that she has yet to hear from the airline.
In Ahmedabad, families are mourning loved ones who supported their households. Among them is Suresh Patni, who just dropped off his teenage son at his wife’s tea stall when the plane tragedy struck. His wife suffered severe injuries, including burns and nerve damage, and Mr. Patni has found himself unable to break the devastating news to her. “She won’t be able to handle it… I’ve already lost one; I can’t risk losing her too,” he shared, his voice heavy with anguish.
As he stands vigil over his wife, Mr. Patni remains among those waiting for news about their son’s remains. “As soon as our number comes, they’ll call us, ask us to come, and then hand over the body,” he concluded, echoing the sentiment of many still facing uncertainty amidst their grief.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
