- The Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad occurred shortly after takeoff, at 1:38 PM.
- A total of 242 people were on board, with one British Indian man reported to have survived.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the intense fire hindered rescue efforts due to high temperatures.
The Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad had over 1 lakh litres of fuel and the temperature was so high that there was no opportunity to save anyone, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said late this evening after visiting the crash site of the Air India flight to London and the injured at the hospital. The crash took place at 1.38 pm today - minutes after the flight took off from the Ahmedabad airport. The exact cause is yet to be known and an investigation has been ordered.
Of the 242 people in the flight, one British Indian man is known to have survived. 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British-Indian who was returning to the UK after a visit, was found walking around almost unscathed. Reports said he had taken the flight along with his brother, whom he is trying to find.
Mr Shah said had the scorching heat from the highly inflammable fuel not been there, more people could have been saved.
The flight being a direct one to London's Gatwick airport, the plane was carrying a massive amount of fuel.
"With 1.25 lakh liters of fuel burning, the temperature of that spot was so high, we did not get a chance to save anyone," he said.
The minister, who left Delhi for Ahmedabad shortly after the crash, said he has visited the crash site.
"The work of pulling out the passengers' remains is almost over. The task of collecting DNA from the bereaved families will take two or three hours and it would soon be over... We have informed the families that lost their loved ones," he said. The high intensity fire has charred most of the bodies beyond recognition.
Mr Shah, however refused to put a number to the deaths, it will become known once the DNA tests are over. The Dreamliner had crashed over the hostel of the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, located outside the perimeter of the airfield, killing five students. Many more have been injured.
"The aviation department has started its investigation and the minister handling the department has informed that it will be concluded as soon as possible," added the home minister, who held a meeting with the state's ministers and officials after he reached Ahmedabad.
