12-6, Indian news agency ANI issued a local alert saying that a living creature was found on the Darkness plane and another in a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad. These people are being treated.
“Police have found one survivor on 11A. One survivor was found in the hostel and is being treated. We cannot say anything about the number of fatalities yet. The death toll may increase as the plane crashed in a residential area,” ANI news agency quoted Ahmedabad chief superintendent Prof Malik as saying.
The miraculous survivor was identified as Ramesh Vishwaskumar Bucharvada, according to India Today.
“Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed,” survivor Ramesh Viswashkumar, 40, told the Hindustan Times from his hospital bed.
“It all happened so fast. When I woke up, I saw dead bodies all around me. I was so scared, I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed me and put me in an ambulance and took me to the hospital,” he said.
He said his brother was sitting in another row on the plane. “He was with me and I couldn’t find him. Please help me find him,” he said.
Following this survivor, Vidhi Chaudhary, a senior local police officer, believes there is still hope. “There is a possibility that there are some more survivors among those in the hospital dormitory. There is also a possibility that the death toll will increase. There are more than 50 injured people in the hospital right now,” he said.
An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed on June 12 after taking off from the airport in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad.
The plane was carrying 242 people and was en route to London.
The fully fueled plane crashed into the BJ Medical College dormitory building in Ahmedabad, located right next to the airport.
Images from the scene showed many burning pieces of debris, with thick black smoke rising from the area near the airport.
At 6:15 p.m. local time (7:45 p.m. Vietnam time), Reuters news agency quoted the Ahmedabad police chief as confirming that 204 bodies had been found at the scene of the plane crash. Previously, local police also said it was unlikely that there were any survivors on the flight.
The crash site was described as desolate, with many rescue and energy units present.
Speaking about the Ahmedabad crash, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “heartbroken beyond words” and was working with ministers and authorities to support those affected.
“The tragedy in Ahmedabad has left us shocked and saddened, heartbroken beyond words,” Reuters news agency quoted Modi as saying.
US aircraft manufacturer Boeing said it was “aware of initial reports” of the crash in India and was “working to gather more information” as it worked.