Public urged to avoid sealed AI-171 crash zone as probe enters key phase
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Ahmedabad: Authorities in Ahmedabad have sealed the entire crash site of Air India flight AI-171 to facilitate an unhindered investigation, as rescue and recovery efforts continue following the devastating crash. Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) Vikas Sahay has appealed to the public to stay away from the crash zone to preserve crucial evidence for ongoing forensic and aviation inquiries.
“We are grateful to all local residents and volunteers who assisted in the immediate aftermath of the crash. However, the site is now cordoned off for investigators to gather essential evidence. We request everyone to avoid the area to prevent disruption,” DGP Sahay said in a public message.
The appeal comes amid growing concerns that public movement near the crash site could compromise the investigation being carried out by Indian and international agencies. Boeing representatives and American investigators are already on site, and India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the technical probe with assistance from state and central disaster and forensic teams.
State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi echoed the DGP’s call for public cooperation and reassured families that personal belongings recovered from the wreckage would be returned. “Items recovered from the crash site are being meticulously documented and will be returned to the families of the deceased as soon as possible,” he said in a statement on social media platform X. He acknowledged the emotional value of the items and pledged sensitivity in the process.
In another significant development, the hostels of B.J. Medical College, which sustained structural damage during the crash, are being vacated to enable full access to the AAIB investigation team. Dr. Minakshi Parikh, Dean of B.J. Medical College, confirmed that all four Atulyam hostels have either been cleared or are in the process of being vacated.
Relocation arrangements have been made for the displaced medical residents. Thirty-three postgraduate doctors from Atulyam-1 and five from UN Mehta Hospital have been moved to wings A, D, and B of the UN Mehta Hostel. Of the 100 doctors from GCRI who resided in Atulyam-2 and 3, 52 have been shifted to the old, previously unused GCRI building, while 50 rooms have been rented for one year to accommodate the remaining 48 doctors.
Coordination is ongoing with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India to support both the investigation and the sensitive recovery process.
With IANS inputs
