Ahmedabad: As torrential monsoon rains sweep across Gujarat, authorities are likely to move the wreckage from the Air India Flight AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad to a more secure location. The relocation is part of a broader effort to reconstruct the crash scene without compromising evidence amid the ongoing investigation.
The crash site, located in Meghani Nagar, has been sealed off as a joint investigation by Indian and international agencies, including the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), is underway. Officials fear that heavy rainfall could damage critical evidence, prompting urgent plans to transfer debris to a secure facility.
“A hangar at the airport or another covered space is being considered,” said a senior official familiar with the discussions. The Gujarat government is coordinating with the Civil Aviation department to provide logistical support and storage, including the use of the GujSAIL building at Ahmedabad airport, which now serves as a temporary AAIB command center, as per the reports.
Parts of the aircraft, including the tail section that had become lodged in the walls of the Attulyam hostels at B J Medical College, have already been extracted. To facilitate cleanup and investigation, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) demolished parts of the hostel compound wall, granting easier access for equipment and emergency crews.
Bulldozers, cranes, and teams of over 40 workers and 10 engineers from the AMC are working around the clock, supported by two Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) teams equipped with power tools to handle larger wreckage.
Recovery efforts are still underway, particularly in the tail section and debris-laden hostel buildings. Paramedics and forensic teams remain deployed to identify and transport remains of victims. Authorities confirmed that several bodies were still being recovered more than three days after the tragedy.
To prevent any disturbance to the site or potential tampering, the Cattle Nuisance Control Department (CNCD) was tasked with clearing the area of stray animals. Six stray dogs have already been removed from the vicinity. While city police who were guarding the crash zone have been reassigned to prepare for the upcoming Jagannath Rath Yatra on June 27, traffic police remain stationed to ensure the area stays secure for investigators.
Despite the rains that began on June 16, top Gujarat officials insist the investigation is progressing steadily. “Key areas of the wreckage have been covered and protected from water damage. There’s no waterlogging, and conditions are under control,” a senior police officer said.
Secretary of Gujarat’s Civil Aviation department, stated, “We’re providing complete logistical support to AAIB. They are fully stationed in our GujSAIL building with access to meeting rooms and secure storage.” As evidence continues to be collected and analyzed, reconstruction of the aircraft using the relocated debris will be a vital step toward determining the cause of the crash and preventing future tragedies.