Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Last Victim Identified By DNA Tests Cremated; Closure Only Solace For Kin

Anil Khimani, final victim of the Ahmedabad plane crash, was cremated in Kutch after DNA identification. The 35-year-old mason was en route to London when the Air India flight crashed, killing 260.

File image.

Source : PTI

Bhuj, Jun 29 (PTI) Anil Khimani, the last victim of the horrific June 12 Ahmedabad plane crash identified through DNA tests, has been cremated in Gujarat's Kutch district, bringing closure to the family after two weeks of wait and distress that included submission of samples twice.

The 35-year-old, a mason by profession and father of two minor daughters, was on his way to London on Air India Flight 171 to meet relatives when it crashed into a medical college complex in Meghaninagar shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in what turned out to be one of the worst aviation disasters in recent times.

His father Laljibhai had received a call from the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, which has been helming the DNA test and identification process, on Friday evening about Anil's body being identified.

"We brought the body back to our native Dahisara (near Bhuj town) and performed the last rites on Saturday in the presence of all our relatives and scores of well-wishers. It took more than two weeks for authorities to identify Anil's body, but at the end of it all we are at peace that it was identified and we could give him a dignified final farewell," Laljibhai said.

In an effort to get closure to the pain from the loss, the family had held a symbolic cremation on Thursday, he added.

"For the DNA test, I gave my sample first. But a few days later we were told that another sample will have to be given. We once again went to Ahmedabad and this time my wife gave the sample. We had been anxiously waiting for the results since then," the distraught father recounted.

Following the final victim being identified, state government authorities on Saturday had put the death toll at 260, including 241 out of 242 on board the Dreamliner. The others were killed on the ground. 

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)