Amit Shah: Heat Intensity Soared as 1.25 Lakh Litres of Fuel Burned in Air India Crash

Fuel-Fueled Inferno Left No Chance for Rescue, Says Amit Shah After Ahmedabad Plane Crash.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that the massive fire following the Air India Flight AI-171 crash left virtually no chance of survival for most passengers, as nearly 1.25 lakh litres of jet fuel onboard ignited and caused temperatures to soar to extreme levels.

Speaking to the media after visiting the crash site with Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Shah said, “There was approximately 1.25 lakh litres of fuel in the aircraft. The temperature rose dramatically. Given the scale of the fire, there was little possibility of saving anyone.”

The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had just taken off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport when it crashed into a government hospital hostel in the densely populated Meghaninagar area. The crash and subsequent fire killed over 200 people and injured 41 others. Many of the victims were medical students residing in the hostel.

Shah said that almost all the bodies had been recovered and that DNA identification was underway. “We are in the process of collecting DNA samples from the families of victims. For those living abroad, we have already made contact and will be coordinating with them to collect their samples as soon as possible,” he added.

The government has mobilized emergency resources and vowed full support for the victims’ families. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a probe into the incident, with Air India and aviation authorities cooperating fully.

This marks one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory, prompting calls for a thorough investigation and improved safety measures.