In this episode of To The Point, watch India Today's Preeti Choudhry's ground report from the Air India plane crash site in Ahmedabad and all the latest updates about the crash.
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00:01You're watching India today for the last, a little now, over 24 hours.
00:05We've been reporting live.
00:07Right behind me is the crash site.
00:09You can see the mess of the BJ Hospital, hostel.
00:15The latest information, viewers, just about a little over one hour.
00:20There has been a big breakthrough where investigations are concerned.
00:23I want to take you through.
00:24The black box has been recovered.
00:27Sources say the black box was found on the building rooftop.
00:30DGCA have ordered inspection of the AI Boeing fleet as well.
00:36And the Air India now will carry out additional maintenance of 787.
00:42So the DGCA has come out with a new protocol in terms of maintenance.
00:45And there are new norms as per the DGCA.
00:48But to take you through on the importance of the recovery of the black box, right behind me,
00:53that is where the black box has been recovered.
00:55You can see the tail end of AI-171.
01:01And at the tail end assembly was where the black box was recovered.
01:05On three counts, viewers, the recovery becomes very, very important.
01:08Number one, all conversations in the cockpit now will be, which were recorded in the black box,
01:15will be revealed.
01:16And that's very, very important.
01:17Number two, all machine sounds, beeps, distress signals, all of that now will also be recorded.
01:23Number three, over 1,000 parameters on the mechanical front will be embedded where the black box is concerned.
01:31You know, even though investigations are going to continue for months on what is recovered from the black box,
01:38at least in the next 48 to 72 hours, there will be an understanding whether or not other Boeing 787s need to be grounded
01:48or is it just limited of what happened yesterday, limited to this particular flight alone.
01:53So in that aspect, you know, it's all the way more important.
01:59Also, will there be far-reaching implications?
02:02Because Boeing has sent a team.
02:04There are teams coming in from across the world to study the air crash right here in Gujarat, Ahmedabad.
02:10I want to cut across to my colleague because there are two sides to the story.
02:13One, the tactical investigation side.
02:15They found the black box right here.
02:17And the other one is the human side.
02:19The human side is the one that has taken the maximum toll.
02:23You know, in terms of the enormity of the catastrophe, can and if there is a picture of that,
02:32because that is playing out at the civil hospital in Ahmedabad, where till now, the death toll has been confirmed at 265.
02:39It is going to rise, unfortunately, because those on ground, some of them have been critical.
02:44Air India has already announced that out of 242 passengers on board, 241 have been killed.
02:50There have been one, you could call it a Hail Mary moment, where this crash was concerned.
02:55One lone survivor who actually, practically walked out of the wreckage.
03:00I want to cut across right now to my colleague, Vidya, who's been joining us from the civil hospital.
03:07You know, grief, Vidya, is one of the toughest assignments for a reporter to document.
03:13You've been speaking to the family members over the course of the last 24 hours.
03:18It's not easy.
03:20Bodies have been moved out from the post-mortem area, the mortuary, which has been overflowing,
03:25because one needs to get now an understanding, Vidya.
03:29DNA samples of loved ones might be collected.
03:31We've been told that over 200 DNA samples have been collected.
03:35Only eight bodies have been handed over to relatives, because only eight bodies are recognizable.
03:40The rest, the tallest 260 viewers, the rest are charred beyond recognition.
03:47So DNA samples have been collected ever since the course of last evening.
03:51And with the record of that DNA samples, the doctors at the civil hospital,
03:56there have been teams that have been flown in from across the country,
03:59will try and match whether it matches with not just bodies,
04:02because unfortunately so was the catastrophe that the remains have come in terms of body parts as well.
04:12It's going to be a massive exercise that the civil hospital in Ahmedabad would need to carry out.
04:17Right now, Vidya, I believe they've given a window of 72 hours,
04:21but with what most doctors seem to suggest and tell us,
04:25it could be a long winding wait for, you know, the loved ones, the families who've been here,
04:32hoping at least, you know, to give a graceful funeral to their loved ones in a death that has been so public.
04:42In fact, Preeti, I've been speaking to families and one thing is what I felt is specifically is that,
04:51you know, yesterday when I came in from Mumbai, when I spoke to people,
04:55they seemed to be understanding, you know, but as the hours pass, as the time is ticking,
05:01we see quite a little bit of restlessness.
05:03I was speaking to a couple of families today and they were mostly of the opinion that, you know,
05:08they have been waiting and the wait seems endless, though they have been told 72 hours of wait is something that is mandatory
05:15because that is what the procedure will take.
05:17But it is every few hours that, you know, that the hours are passing by,
05:23the families seem to be getting a little restless.
05:26In fact, some of them that we have been speaking to, one of the family member was very specifically said that,
05:31you know, all that the administration has done is to tell them that wait for a phone call.
05:36Now, this one wait for a phone call is for the next 72 hours is something extremely difficult for a family that is grieving
05:44to hold on, to make sure and especially remember, you know, there are families back home.
05:49There are people here who are there waiting to take bodies, take a handover of the body.
05:53They have to travel all the way to their villages where the rest of the family,
05:57the rest of the village is waiting for their loved, dear ones, bodies to arrive.
06:01So, and for the final funeral to take, and for them to get a closure.
06:05But certainly in this, the restlessness is definitely increasing.
06:12Well, you know, Vidya, proverbial closure is far right now for at least what we have been told,
06:20240 families, because they have given their blood samples, they have been waiting.
06:24I spent all of last night at the staging area where they are conducting DNA sampling.
06:33And there are families grief-stricken.
06:35They have come from far.
06:37They are just sitting there.
06:38They are hoping it will happen in a couple of hours.
06:40Constantly the authorities are going to them and telling them,
06:43listen, it's going to take at least three days.
06:44But they are not leaving the site.
06:46They are just sitting there.
06:46I had a conversation, and I think, you know, as a journalist, it's a conversation I will remember.
06:53I spoke to an old couple and their son, daughter, and grandchildren were on board this ill-fated flight.
07:00And they said, you know, his phone is still ringing.
07:05This was despite Air India declaring 241 dead on flight AI-171.
07:11It's, you know, I wish it on no one of the scenes that have played out at the civil hospital since last night.
07:19I want to just take our viewers back because what you see right behind me is the crash site.
07:23This is the physical manifestation of one of India's biggest air disasters, aviation disasters,
07:30where Vidya is the civil hospital, is the emotional manifestation,
07:35and that is far more overbearing of what you see just behind me.
07:39This is what we recorded.
07:41My camera person, Sanjay, and I.
07:42If catastrophe had a picture, it would be this.
08:11As I have walked in over the last one kilometer, all I have seen, and I will show you, you know, in time,
08:17there are fires which are still being put out, and this is the tail end of the aircraft,
08:21of what you can see on the crash landing of AI-171 London bound.
08:27I want to immediately try and get, you know, our viewers a sense in terms of what really happened.
08:31I have a nurse because this was a hostel for medical students.
08:36I have a staff nurse who works at the, you know, at the...
08:42Ashram Quarters.
08:43She lives at the Ashram Quarters, which is right next to this particular hostel,
08:46and, ma'am, first of all, my name is Arthi Sadhu.
08:51I work here in the civil hospital, in the I department.
08:55I have been here at night and I have been here, and I have been here at 2 o'clock.
08:59Where are you at the back?
09:00I will give you a sense, about over a thousand rescue personnel on ground.
09:27You know, they are from the CISF, the Rapid Action Force, the RPF, you know, the Coast Guard.
09:34When are you here, sir?
09:361.30.
09:371.30.
09:38What did you see, sir?
09:39Will you tell me your name?
09:40I am the fire officer.
09:42Yes, sir.
09:42I saw that I was out of the visit, and there was a plane crash.
09:47So, we are here.
09:48So, that's the...
09:49The body was out of the...
09:50Yes, sir.
09:51The body was out of the...
09:52The body was out of the...
09:53The body was out of the...
09:54I'm standing at the crash site, and this was the cockpit side, the front of the plane.
10:13And then if you go all the way back, you can see the tail end as well.
10:16And what you can actually see is a visual of absolute catastrophe.
10:22The tragedy and the scale of it can be counted.
10:27Viewers, if you look at the strewn clothes, medicine, slippers...
10:32I saw a watch of all the passengers who were on board.
10:36This was the business class section, and those who have been standing here tell us that this
10:43is where most, and probably Mr. Rupani, the first class section and the business class
10:48section bodies were pulled out.
10:51What you can smell is fuel, because it was a plane which was loaded with about 90 to 100
10:59tons of ATF, air, turbine, fuel, and you can smell it in the air.
11:05You can smell, you know, the smoke, the aircraft burning still.
11:13And you can smell, you know, that lingering smell of burning flesh.
11:18The tragedy and the scale of it is numbing, to say the least.
11:23I have with me, sir, kya naam hai hap ka?
11:25Nitin Shah.
11:25Nitin Shah.
11:27Aap RSS se hai?
11:28Jih.
11:29Yahaan phe subhe se hai?
11:30Jih.
11:31Jih.
11:31Jih.
11:31Jih.
11:32Jih.
11:32Jih.
11:33Jih.
11:33Jih.
11:34Jih.
11:34Jih.
11:35Jih.
11:36Jih.
11:37Jih.
11:38Jih.
11:39Jih.
11:41Jih.
11:42Ashi.
11:42Ech.
11:43Phele pata cala tha.
11:44Yohan sihi, yahu.
11:45Yahu taw.
11:47Pele fire tha.
11:48Yahu taw.
11:49Yahu taw.
11:51Yahu taw.
11:52Yahu.
11:53Yahu taw.
11:53Yahu taw.
11:55Yahu taw.
11:55Yahu taw.
11:55foreign
12:25Yes, it was the first time.
12:26When it started, it was near the building.
12:32It was behind the building.
12:35Yes, it was behind the building.
12:38It was about 3 o'clock in the morning.
12:42It was a little local injury.
12:44It was admitted here.
12:46It was about 7 o'clock at 1 o'clock.
12:49There was nothing left.
12:52You helped?
12:54Yes.
12:55Actually, when we came,
12:57it was like the whole building,
13:02it was quite a bit of a difference.
13:06We also had to send 4-5 buildings here.
13:10Initially, the government of the government,
13:14some of the auto-rickets,
13:17some of the private taxi members also supported.
13:20They also had to send the building.
13:22We came from Gujarat,
13:28from underdog.
13:29No.
13:31When?
13:33It is a very big problem.
13:34It is a very big problem.
13:36Everybody is running here and people haven't seen it.
13:40The position is very bad.
13:41We don't know anything about anything.
13:42Are you serious?
13:43Yes, you have the bodies.
13:45I'm a big one.
13:46There are 15 to 20 people.
13:48Are you helping?
13:49Yes, I'm better than you.
13:50How are you getting here?
13:51I have been helping in the hostel.
13:52You're helping?
13:53No.
13:54How are you helping?
13:55Yes, you are helping.
13:56I have to help.
13:57How are you helping?
13:58How are you helping?
13:59I have to help.
14:00How are you helping?
14:01How are you helping?
14:02This is what it looks like. It's over a course of about 600 meters, this building right there, completely charred. There's smoke still bellowing from one of the floors. I'll ask Sanjay to actually zero in there.
14:23And this is what it looks like for about 300 meters. This, you know, the smell of fuel and that is nauseating. About 90 to 100 tons of air turbine fuel. It was a fully loaded aircraft as it was taking over.
14:42The fire department, they're still at it. It's late in the night trying to put out the blaze. It's spread out. Like I said, it's a disaster zone.
14:51And there are fires all across with multiple blocks and buildings of this hostel.
14:57What we've also been told is that the aircraft accident investigation bureau is also there. Members of that, they've cordoned off this area right at the end.
15:09This is the tail end of the aircraft. And this is where the tail end assembly is where the black box is supposed to be of this aircraft.
15:18We've spoken to some of these officials and they say that it wouldn't it because the at the time of impact in the crash, the impact was curtailed.
15:29Usually, you know, when there is a dreamliner kind of crash, then the debris spread out and it gets very difficult to actually, you know, find the black box.
15:38And here, as per these investigative officers, they did speak to me off record and they did, you know, some of them say that it could be easier to actually get hold of the black box.
15:52One which is at the tail end assembly of the aircraft and one which is a little, you know, at the beginning of the same aircraft.
16:01A brand new football, clearly for a child.
16:19There's a tiffin, a snack box for a kid.
16:23You can see raisins, nuts, healthy snacks for a child.
16:26Hands plastered, basically a band-aid for kids.
16:33All of that and then there's a temple right here.
16:37God's watching.
16:39Sometimes it does make you question on the existence of God.
16:44Right there, Sanjay will show you all the luggage which has been strewn about.
16:49But the officials here, one by one, picking up each piece of that luggage, putting it right there so that it doesn't get taken.
16:58And you can see the cops here guarding the luggage right there.
17:02This is the BJ Medical College mess.
17:08This is where maximum fatalities and casualties have taken place because this is where the aircraft crashed and made maximum impact.
17:17And you can actually see the tail end of the aircraft actually right there, plowing through the mess.
17:25And it was lunch hour and many of the students there were actually getting their lunch.
17:33Everything is in shambles.
17:35Sanjay will actually show you the Junior Medical Association plaque right there.
17:43And this was what we've been told the mess area.
17:48This is where the young students there were eating their lunch when the plane plowed, tore into the building, taking many lives.
18:01Let's try and get up.
18:02This is, like I said, the mess area.
18:04Brick, mortar, remains of the aircraft, the debris, mattresses, and broken dreams of young lives who wanted to make it.
18:13All sitting, eating lunch, not knowing that a plane is going to ram into their building.
18:25That's the wheel of the aircraft.
18:28That's the tail end of the body.
18:30You can actually see a part of the Maharaja Air India's logo right there.
18:35Mattresses of students' rooms, their beds there, and bloodstains.
18:47And this was the mess.
18:50Sanjay will just show you, this was the mess.
18:52And this is all but destroyed.
18:54And this is where the young students were sitting there grabbing lunch.
18:58And you can actually see the remnants of hostel life strewn, slippers, sweatshirts.
19:09I just want to take you through because the students were right here.
19:13Their mattress is strewn.
19:14We can see splattered blood all over.
19:18This was the area where the plane rammed in and where the students were actually getting their lunch.
19:28You can actually, I'll ask my camera person, Sanjay, to show you the remnants of student life.
19:33You know, slippers, sweatshirts, young medical students all here having absolutely no idea that an aircraft would slam into them.
19:43So, just want to take you through.
19:46This was the mess area.
19:48The police now clearing all of us from here.
19:50And understandably because a lot of press right here.
19:56Brand new shirts of young medical students, you can see.
20:00This is the mess area right here.
20:04Tables, benches, and, you know, this is heartbreaking.
20:10Clearly somebody was eating his meal right here.
20:14And I can, you know, I've counted the number of thalis.
20:18That, uh, more than 25.
20:21This is, uh, where they were sitting.
20:23Sanjay, just turn around.
20:25I'll ask Sanjay and then you can get a, a view of how the aircraft actually slammed into this building.
20:33That is what I showed you right there.
20:36That's the tail end of that aircraft.
20:38This is the, you know, the tables, the benches.
20:42And you can see their meal uneaten right here.
20:45I don't want to give in numbers right now because there's no real confirmation and that won't be responsible to do so.
20:55But, uh, what we've been given to understand maximum fatalities have happened right here.
21:01Uh, all of the clothes that you see strewn around, some of them have been, uh, because most of, uh, the students, uh, were burnt, charred.
21:09Some of them had, uh, injuries who were taken and you can see actually blood splattered walls.
21:14What we've been told, maximum fatalities from here.
21:17The area now is being sanitized slowly, one by one.
21:20Uh, the press is being escorted out because this is where, uh, you know, uh, I met one of, uh, the officers, uh, from, uh, uh, the investigative agency.
21:31And they were the ones who've been looking for debris right here.
21:33So they're sanitizing this area right now.
21:36This is the BJ medical, uh, mess of the hostel here.
21:39Uh, right opposite it, you know, to give our viewers an understanding, this is the mess area.
21:44Downstairs was the recreation area, mess in terms of the kitchen.
21:48And, uh, on the sides you can see a lot of blocks which we showed you earlier.
21:52Those are the blocks, the hostel blocks.
21:54Those are the ones, uh, which are completely charred on fire.
21:57But in terms of impact, you see right, uh, at the end, uh, the part of the plane, that was the plane that rammed in, right to the tail end of the aircraft.
22:05This was the first impact that the plane made, uh, with a building, uh, and, uh, it started from here and then rammed the entire, uh, dreamliner, uh, uh, you know, caved in and, uh, crash-landed ahead.
22:18So maximum damages in this particular area.
22:27So 108 for the ambulance, you're from 108 team.
22:39Uh, so these are the ones who came in, uh, uh, uh, they were the distress call.
22:45You're from 108, you're from the ambulance team.
22:47The hospital team in
22:51How did your team come along with the ambulance?
23:21foreign
23:27foreign
23:37foreign
23:41foreign
23:47foreign
23:51foreign
23:55foreign
24:11foreign
24:15The two people came here and they had a fire.
24:18They were taking them.
24:20They were taking them.
24:22So first the fire was opened?
24:24Yes, the fire was opened.
24:26It was completely black.
24:28Both of them were taking them.
24:30They were taking them.
24:32They were taking them.
24:34So you had these two people in the ambulance.
24:38Tell me.
24:40They were taking them.
24:44They were taking them.
24:46What was the hospital?
24:48How did they take them?
24:50The two-three minutes left here.
24:52Two-three minutes left.
24:54Three minutes left.
24:56What did they say?
25:00They were saying that my name is Bhaskar.
25:02They were saying that my name is Bhaskar.
25:06They took them.
25:08What was the situation in the other side was not?
25:10The situation in Bhaskar was the same?
25:12They were the same?
25:14That was the situation in Bhaskar.
25:15What was the other names?
25:16What was the situation in the other?
25:17No, they weren't speaking anything.
25:19They didn't speak anything.
25:20But they also followed the situation in Baskar.
25:21How did they feel?
25:22The situation in Bhaskar was that?
25:24A situation in Bhaskar was the same.
25:26The fight was completely black.
25:27Two people who stood in a house.
25:29And they were taking them out of emergency.
25:33And then…
25:34there were the trauma center.
25:35In the trauma center.
25:36in the center.
25:37You took them to the center.
25:38You took them to the center.
25:39Yes.
25:40And then, do you have any other living people here
25:45or just the bodies?
25:47When it happened, we took our car.
25:52The bodies?
25:53Ambulance.
25:54You were not a survivor?
25:55No.
25:56When you came, what did you see?
25:58How many people have rescued?
25:59I took three or four living people.
26:03The one who took them was a student.
26:05Did you take them?
26:06How did you take them to the center?
26:07How did you take them to the center?
26:08No, not here.
26:09I took them to the center.
26:10He took the center.
26:11How many people took here?
26:14Three or four people took there.
26:17and there were bodies also took there.
26:20When you took here in the morning and you were here.
26:23Your name?
26:24Mr. .
26:25Where were you from from here?
26:28I came from from 108?
26:29I came from 108.
26:30From 1145?
26:31I was standing from 2 o'clock.
26:33As long as I came from here.
26:34How many did you rescue?
26:36Four.
26:37Four?
26:38One.
26:39One.
26:40Three.
26:41Three dead bodies.
26:51I'm standing right now, it's close to midnight, at the civil hospital, right next to the mortuary in the post-mortem room.
26:57The mortuary, the post-mortem room, there is no room there anymore for bodies that have been brought in.
27:03Two of them still are coming in.
27:05Two bodies have just come in at this point of time from the accident site.
27:08I'm standing right here where I would think if you're a loved one or family of somebody in an accident, you would dread to be here.
27:19Because the loved ones, the families here lining up, not in hope of finding their loved one alive in the hospital, recuperating, recovering,
27:31but here giving their DNA samples.
27:36Because the bodies that have been retracted from the wreckage of the Dreamliner are completely charred with six to seven degree burns and they cannot be identified.
27:50Some of them even just body parts.
27:53And that's why the families are giving their DNA sample to match with the bodies there.
27:59So at least, maybe in death, they can be accorded a graceful funeral.
28:05So basically, over 150 families have already come in.
28:21They've given their DNA samples to be matched with the bodies that have brought in.
28:25I was speaking to the lady there.
28:27She's a staffer here at the civil hospital.
28:30And what she says is that in their entire list of that they have, there is only one person who is not in and that's the name of the survivor.
28:40Basically, state government has, after this incident, made an order of four IS officers to look in various capacities.
28:46So I'm looking after this DNA sampling exercise that we are doing here.
28:51So how many family members have already come and given their DNA?
28:55Around for 200 individuals families have come.
28:59200 DNA samples are already?
29:02I mean, samples can be less.
29:04For example, if there are two members in one family and then one person can, who is directly related to them, must have given sample.
29:10So that is likely to be slightly less than that.
29:12But about 200 people have come in to give their DNA samples.
29:16And do we have a count in terms of right now who are still missing the bodies that have been brought in?
29:24No, no. This is not our mandate here.
29:25I mean, we have been assigned this responsibility.
29:27I can comment on that only.
29:28Yes.
29:29So all you're saying is that right now about over 200.
29:31And they've come from, are these just the bodies or the, are these just the family members of those on the aircraft or also?
29:39They can be both. I mean, we are not restricting to that.
29:41So anybody who feels that, you know, their family members are missing either due to the crash or they were passengers.
29:47So they can be both.
29:48So, and you're looking at that.
29:50So this help desk is going to run from when to when?
29:52It shall remain 24-7.
29:5424-7.
29:56My name is Ronit Singh.
29:57Ronit Singh.
29:58You are local?
29:59Yes, I am local.
30:00My house is in my house.
30:01When it was blast, I was sitting there and I had to go and eat and leave.
30:03We were on blast.
30:04We were on blast.
30:05We were on blast.
30:06We were on blast.
30:07We were on blast.
30:08We were on blast.
30:09We were on blast.
30:10We were on blast.
30:11We were on blast.
30:12There was a plane crash.
30:13We were not allowed to go into the ground.
30:14There was a plane crash.
30:15There we were not allowed to go into the ground.
30:17So I and my friends, whenever I met people, the PM room was there,
30:23there was Manish Tutariya Sahib.
30:25He was head there.
30:27There he was only on talent.
30:28There were a lot of staff who are working.
30:30Then we got all to get the bodies.
30:31Then we got all together.
30:33My home got all the bodies.
30:35Then this room, the whole PM room packed out, it was so many bodies.
30:39The post-mortem room was all?
30:40Yes.
30:41The frozen area of the bodies.
30:44The city, which was in front of the back side, was also packed.
30:48Then, the people said to them that you're helping,
30:51so now they are in the trauma center,
30:53which was the whole trauma center.
30:56Then, they went to the trauma center.
30:58There was an ambulance there.
31:02They stopped the ambulance there, and they took the body to go there.
31:08Are you helping?
31:10Yes, I am helping.
31:11the people who have died
31:12are in the body
31:15and don't have a hand
31:18and a child was removed
31:21the tear was removed
31:23the tear was removed
31:26the tear was removed
31:29the body was removed
31:31an ambulance came from the stretcher
31:34and the people told me
31:36they were taking a garbage
31:37and the people put it into the car
31:39foreign
32:09A Mr. Potema, every man says that he has been in work with me.
32:14A Mr. Potema he told me a proper job.
32:19He told me to run a proper job without him.
32:25He told him a proper job.
32:28He told me not to do a proper job.
32:32He told me that I don't want to do a proper job.
32:36my sweetheart will always sit E!
32:43He'll try one night
32:48and my son will keep it
32:53and I'll keep it
34:00That's what heartbreak looks like.
34:19That's what heartbreak sounds like.
34:23Falguni, right there, has lost her father.
34:27She wants to give two crores.
34:30She wants to give two crores to Air India to get her father back.
34:38Her mother, her father, God.
34:42She's given her DNA sample.
34:44She's waiting for a match to take the body home.
34:49Reporting with camera person Sanjay,
34:51Preeti Chaudhary at the civil hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, for India Today.
35:08Falguni Pathak sought my camera person Sanjay and I out at 1 a.m. last night.
35:31Those were the scenes playing out at the civil hospital, the DNA sampling center.
35:37It's become the face of the tragedy and this tragedy cuts deep.
35:41We have 165 families.
35:43Life as they knew it has changed forever.
35:46I went back this morning, back to the DNA center where they are recording,
35:53taking samples of DNA of loved ones because families coming in from across the country,
35:58across the world.
35:59And what you saw were scenes of grief, of bereavement, more so anger, questions.
36:08And some of the families once again chose to spoke to us,
36:12venting it out, venting their ire out.
36:29If there is a picture of abject heartbreak, this is where it is because since there's been
36:43a steady stream of loved ones, families who are coming in, who heard the news for DNA sampling
36:52and, you know, I can't begin to encapsulate on what we have seen.
37:00You know, God will this on no one because these are people who are coming in.
37:07These are people who are coming in not to identify loved ones because they cannot identify loved
37:15ones because the bodies have been charred beyond recognition.
37:20These are families who have come in to give, provide their DNA samples so that in some
37:29what manner, because there can be a graceful funeral for their loved ones because bodies
37:36can be identified.
37:38Late last night I was there and I was speaking to a lot of people who have voluntarily come
37:44in to help.
37:45You know, I'm going to pull away from that because the families are very, very upset.
37:50Some of them have just come in from Baharuch.
37:52Baharuch.
37:53Baharuch.
37:54Baharuch.
37:55Baharuch.
37:56Baharuch.
37:57Baharuch.
37:58Baharuch.
37:59Baharuch.
38:00Baharuch.
38:01Baharuch.
38:02Baharuch.
38:03Baharuch.
38:04Baharuch.
38:05Baharuch.
38:06Baharuch.
38:07Baharuch.
38:08Baharuch.
38:09Baharuch.
38:10Baharuch.
38:11Baharuch.
38:12Baharuch.
38:13Baharuch.
38:14Baharuch.
38:15Baharuch.
38:16Baharuch.
38:17Baharuch.
38:18Baharuch.
38:19We have come to give samples, and we have given them a lot of hours.
38:24Have you given a sample?
38:26Yes.
38:29Where are your family?
38:32My family, my brother and my brother.
38:38We all do work on TV services, but today
38:44we all work for 14-15 years.
38:49We have given them a lot.
38:52We have given them time to time.
38:53Our time is coming to my mother.
38:57We have done so many years.
39:00We have done so much for the people.
39:02We have given them a lot.
39:04We have given them a lot.
39:06My mother and my brother will get both of them.
39:09Do you have family?
39:12I have given them a lot.
39:14One second.
39:15Do you have any family with me?
39:20Where are you?
39:22Tell me.
39:23Father.
39:24Father.
39:25Father.
39:26Father.
39:27You have to give you a lot of water.
39:29You have to give us a lot of water.
39:31I am going to just pull away right now.
39:34It is heartbreak like I said.
39:37It is heartbreaking because most of the relatives, some of them who have come in, because information
39:42is little.
39:43Though I have to say, and I will say this, that since yesterday at least the local administration
39:48has set up centers and they have been very, very good to try and dispense information.
39:55But as the loved ones are coming in, they really don't know.
39:58Because already, you know, they are grief-stricken, they are bereaved.
40:02They don't know who to speak with.
40:04And they are coming to the press to ask questions.
40:06I have just met this lady.
40:10She and her brother have come in and heartbroken.
40:15You can see right there, I will ask my camera person, Sanjay, family members being taken
40:24in to give their DNA samples right now.
40:28And heartbreaking visuals.
40:29You don't have the heart to, you know, even speak with them.
40:33You have to give them the dignity.
40:36Late last night, there was a woman who came herself to me asking that if one crore is being
40:41given by Air India, she's willing to give three crores to get her father back, her papa back.
40:48So, these are the scenes right now, viewers.
40:51And it's a terrible, terrible morning.
40:54And I think it's these visuals, these images.
40:58I think India will forever remember, you know, going through one of the worst aviation disasters.
41:05How many families have given their DNA samples here?
41:12Around 200 families have given their DNA sampling here.
41:16And that is for around 205 people.
41:20205 people.
41:21Yes.
41:22How many of you officers are here, sir?
41:24Sorry, sir?
41:25How many of you officers are here?
41:27From the state government, four officers are here.
41:29Four IS officers have been deputed from the state government here.
41:31Just to facilitate DNA sampling?
41:33Yes, you can see that.
41:40The men with the black cap, the khaki pants, are all RSS workers.
41:47And this is a time actually to also, you know, viewers elucidate the stellar job that,
41:53at least since yesterday afternoon, that the RSS has been, you know, the coders of the RSS
41:58have been doing.
41:59The RSS is very strong in Gujarat, and you could actually see them on ground, you know,
42:04since the afternoon there, trying to help loved ones, worried, in grief loved ones,
42:11trying to tell them what's the place to go, setting up small, you know, counters for water,
42:16for food, or just information or a shoulder just to cry on.
42:20And so, you know, just to say that there.
42:23Because as any reporter, I would think one of the most difficult assignments is to document grief.
42:27And sadly, that is what we've been trying to do since the course of last night.
42:34This, you know, even more than the crash site, and I have to say this, even way more than the crash site,
42:40it is right here at the DNA sampling room that the magnanimity of this accident actually hits you.
42:50Right behind me, worried faces just come in.
42:53The family behind me has come in from the United Kingdom.
42:56They flew in this morning because this is the time, the first this morning when, you know,
43:00after they got to know of the crash, lights have been coming in.
43:04Unslept, red eyes, some of them in disbelief, samples given.
43:09But, you know, and every face that you see, you know, you see the face behind me of this lady.
43:15I don't, you know, I'm not going to speak with her, but she had a chat with me early this morning.
43:21And there are sons, there are daughters, there are parents, there are little grandchildren for whom samples are being given.
43:29You know, just look at that. Every face that you see tells the story of trauma,
43:34of how life has changed in a blink of an eye for these families of what they knew life will not exist anymore.
43:43Breadwinners of the family gone, young grandchildren, you know, gone.
43:49I don't even want to detail just for dignity of the dead, the kind of horrific, you know, eyewitness accounts
44:01that we've been hearing since yesterday as in what fashion the bodies were weaned in.
44:06You know, some very, very little children.
44:09But this is what it, you know, is, I'll ask my camera person to show you right there.
44:17That's another family in the white kurta, the lady there, right in front.
44:22That's another family that has just come in from the United Kingdom looking for their brother.
44:27And over 200 bodies is what we've been told are unidentified.
44:33And this is another set of trauma for the loved ones because not only have they lost their family,
44:43but now the agonizing wait for the last, you know, for the next three days continues
44:50because DNA sampling takes three days of time to actually, you know, figure out on, in terms of the match.
44:59So that agonizing wait continues.
45:01There are, of course, officials coming in right now inside the DNA sampling room.
45:07Some of them wanting to meet the loved ones who gathered here.
45:13There is a fair amount of anger as well.
45:15There's a lot of disbelief and there is a pall of grief that is completely enveloped this particular room.
45:26Where are you from from?
45:27Where are you from?
45:28From Gujarat, Anand.
45:29From Anand.
45:30You've come to meet someone?
45:32My friend's son is 22 years old.
45:35He was a Suresh Mistry.
45:36He was my daughter.
45:38He was my daughter.
45:39His daughter?
45:40Sorry sir.
45:45You've given us a DNA sample?
45:47Yes, it's a sample of your life.
45:49It's 72 hours.
45:51It's 72 hours.
45:52It's 72 hours.
45:55Yes.
45:56Next day, he told us that it will be in the afternoon.
46:00Now we have inquired and arrived.
46:03But now there is no question.
46:05You are saying that you will get a sample after 72 hours.
46:10Are your daughter going to UK?
46:13Yes.
46:14For studying?
46:15No, it was in work permit.
46:17In work permit?
46:18For the work permit?
46:19For the work permit?
46:20For the work permit?
46:21For the work permit?
46:22For there is one month for treatment.
46:25For the dentists?
46:27For the next month, there was an accident accident.
46:32That was a very large accident called the car accident.
46:36So it was removed from the gydus.
46:39After that, the ortho dentist in the CTMS has treatment.
46:43It remained on top of the bone.
46:46The doctor said that it was been around 6-10 months.
46:50I have seen a lot of x-ray in London, and I have seen a lot of x-ray, and the doctor told me that you can come here.
46:57He had been implanted for 7 to 8 months, and he was so sick.
47:03No one can do it with him.
47:06It was so fun to do this.
47:14Is this a photo yesterday?
47:16Yes, this is a photo yesterday.
47:22This is your mom.
47:24This is your mom?
47:26Is this your mom?
47:28Did you leave it yesterday?
47:30Yes, it was yesterday yesterday.
47:33Look how many hours it was yesterday.
47:36She has a selfie.
47:38She has a selfie.
47:40Look how much time is.
47:42It's 11 hours.
47:44It's about 3 minutes.
47:46It's going to go.
47:49It's going to go.
47:50Yes, it's going to go.
47:54I don't know how it will happen.
47:56Thank you very much.
48:26Thank you very much.
48:56Sorry, sir.
48:59He's not changed his T-shirt.
49:00He showed me a picture.
49:01He's wearing the same T-shirt.
49:02He came to drop her.
49:04And he's back to give his DNA sample to identify her.
49:10You know, three days, you will know.
49:11Yes, sir.
49:12Yes, sir.
49:12Yes, sir.
49:13Yes, sir.
49:14Yes, sir.
49:15Yes, sir.
49:16Yes, sir.
49:17Yes, sir.
49:18Yes, sir.
49:19Yes, sir.
49:20Yes, sir.
49:21Yes, sir.
49:22Yes, sir.
49:23Yes, sir.
49:24Yes, sir.
49:25Yes, sir.
49:27Yes, sir.
49:32foreign
49:49foreign
50:02I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry.
50:28That's what I said, he's not changed, he came in, he saw Mr. Rupani go in, he showed
50:37me her Instagram post, her daughter's Instagram, his daughter's Instagram post, and it says
50:42till I see you again, miss you.
50:45He showed me the selfie he took with her, he and his wife, and they dropped her, they've
50:49come in from Anand.
50:51He's wearing the same T-shirt, the same red and blue T-shirt.
50:55However, he's come back today, and that picture he showed me, because he's going on referring
51:01to it, he's going on looking at it, and he's saying it was at the same time yesterday, so
51:07exactly an hour ago, and he showed me that picture, and he's now come back to give his
51:14DNA sample to match with his 22-year-old daughter.
51:18That is the expanse of this tragedy, viewers, and it's not one.
51:23It is not one.
51:24There are 265 stories exactly like the one playing out behind me.
51:31That is the expanse of this heartbreak.
51:34That is the expanse of this heartbreak.
51:42See you next time?
51:46fnd