Bereaved families in India began laying their loved ones to rest on Sunday following the devastating crash of an Air India aircraft, which claimed at least 279 lives in one of the most catastrophic air disasters in recent history.
Health officials in Ahmedabad have started handing over the bodies of victims identified through DNA testing.
The remains, placed in white coffins, were delivered to grieving relatives in the western Indian city.
“My heart feels so heavy. How do we return these bodies to the families?” said Tushar Leuva, an NGO volunteer involved in the recovery operation.
The crash occurred on Thursday, when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner went down shortly after takeoff, crashing into a residential neighborhood used by medical staff.
Of the 242 people onboard—including passengers and crew—only one survived. The crash also resulted in the deaths of at least 38 residents on the ground.
Leuva, speaking from a local mortuary on Saturday, expressed concern about the reactions of families when they receive the remains.