Ahmedabad’s coordinated medical response after AI‑171 crash

On June 12, 2025, Air India flight AI‑171 crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel complex in Ahmedabad, killing 241 passengers and 19 people on the ground, with a total death toll of 260. In the immediate aftermath, the city launched one of its largest emergency medical operations. The Ahmedabad Civil Hospital activated its mass‑casualty protocol, mobilising trauma teams, surgeons, neurosurgeons, anaesthetists and emergency doctors, and converting a ward into a dedicated casualty unit. Police, fire brigades, the state health department, NGOs and 108 Emergency Services coordinated ambulance dispatches, with 35 ambulances sent to the site within minutes.

Because many bodies were burned beyond recognition, forensic teams turned to DNA matching, ultimately identifying 254 of the 260 victims. Support centres were set up for grieving families, and counseling services were provided. First‑responder Satinder Singh Sandhu recalled, “Wish we could save more lives,” underscoring the human cost despite the rapid, coordinated effort.