Continuous heavy rainfall has severely hampered recovery efforts at the Ahmedabad crash site of Air India flight AI171, where investigators are still working to retrieve human remains and debris. The downpour, which began late Monday, has slowed forensic work and intensified public health concerns in the densely populated area surrounding the site.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft crashed minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, killing 270 people, including 29 on the ground. Only one survivor has been confirmed. Officials said the rains are complicating efforts to secure the crash zone and carry out recovery operations. “There is a real risk of infection given the density of the locality and the nature of the debris,” a civic official stated.
The wet conditions are making it difficult to identify and recover all human remains, with some possibly still buried in rubble. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) health workers have been disinfecting roads and open areas near the crash site since the weekend. However, consistent rain is washing away sanitisation efforts, requiring repeated treatment.
“We are working in difficult conditions to ensure the safety of both residents and personnel at the site,” an AMC health officer said. Alongside recovery challenges, the crash has raised wider concerns about aviation safety. Officials said the ill-fated aircraft may have suffered technical problems shortly after takeoff, though investigations are ongoing. The Parliamentary Committee on Transport plans to summon DGCA, BCAS, and other agencies to review aviation safety oversight.
Meanwhile, a central panel is probing the crash, with findings due in three months. Of 34 Air India Dreamliners, 12 have passed safety checks. Over 270 DNA samples have been collected, but only 70–80 bodies identified so far, delaying closure for grieving families amid ongoing weather challenges. International cooperation has intensified, with the U.S.-based National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launching a parallel probe, as required under international norms.
Since the aircraft was Boeing-made, American officials are assisting Indian investigators at the crash site. The NTSB is expected to analyse technical and structural issues, adding transparency and global oversight to the ongoing investigation into India’s deadliest air crash in recent years.
