Air India begins disbursement of ₹25 lakh compensation to Ahmedabad crash victims' families, 3 receive payment so far

Air India has begun disbursing the interim compensation of ₹25 lakhs to Ahmedabad crash victims' families, with three families having received the payments so far, the airline said in a statement released on Saturday.

The sum of ₹25 lakh is in addition to the ₹1 crore or approximately GBP 85,000 compensation, which the Tata Sons group had announced hours after the fatal crash.

Air India also stated that it has been “reaching out to those who were injured and the families of those who lost their lives on the ground to initiate the compensation process for them.”

As many as 270 people were killed — including 241 people onboard the ill fated flight, 29 others on ground — after Air India's flight A1171 smashed into Ahmedabad's BJ Medical College Hostel on Thursday, June 12, as per data cited by news wire PTI.

Families assisted throughout DNA identification

In its statement, Air India further added that families were being assisted through out the hospital processes, including DNA identification of the victims.

As of Saturday, a total of 247 victims have been identified through DNA tests, with 232 bodies handed over to kin, officials told news wire PTI.

In the aftermath of the devastating crash, many bodies were charred beyond recognition, or damaged otherwise. As a result, authorities are carrying out DNA tests to confirm the identities of the victims.

The Superintendent of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital — where the bodies are being kept — Dr Rakesh Joshi said that the 247 victims who have been identified comprise 187 Indians, 52 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and a Canadian.

Of the 187 Indians, a total of 175 were on board the ill-fated aircraft and belonged to areas in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Diu and Nagaland.

DNA chaos mounts

With the DNA identification process still underway, eight families who lost their near ones in the crash have been asked to submit the DNA sample of another relative as the previous ones failed to match.

"Unless there is a match, bodies cannot be handed over to the kin, " Ahmedabad Civil Hospital's medical superintendent Rakesh Joshi told PTI on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Air India was asked to terminate three of its employees following recent security lapses.

DGCA orders Air India to remove 3 officials

On Saturday, aviation watchdog DGCA directed the Tata Group airline to undertake “internal disciplinary proceedings” against three officials, directing for their removal from from all roles and responsibilities related to crew scheduling and rostering.