Daijiworld Media Network – Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, Jun 18: In the aftermath of the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, one man’s act of honesty and courage has stood out amid the tragedy. Rajesh Patel (57), a local resident and one of the first responders at the crash site, has been hailed for returning valuables including 70 tolas of gold, cash, and other belongings recovered from the smouldering debris.
The incident occurred when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers crashed into the BJ Medical College complex shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The crash claimed 241 lives on board and 29 others on the ground, including five medical students. Only one passenger survived.
Patel, who lives just 300 metres from the site, rushed to help immediately after hearing a deafening sound and witnessing flames erupting from the area. He joined the rescue operation using an ambulance from a private hospital run by a relative. "We couldn’t reach the spot for about 15–20 minutes due to the fire," he said. "Once it was under control, we used whatever we could find sarees, bedsheets, gunny sacks to carry the injured and bodies."
After rescue efforts concluded, Patel began salvaging belongings scattered at the crash site. He collected gold jewellery, silver items, a few passports, Rs 50,000 in cash, US dollars, and a copy of the Bhagavad Gita. “All of it was handed over to the police,” said Patel, who previously volunteered during the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts and lost two close friends in that tragedy.
Inspector D B Basiya of Meghaninagar police confirmed that a special team has been assigned to catalogue all recovered belongings. “Once the list is complete, we’ll coordinate with Air India to verify and return items to the families,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, shared a video on X showing gold ornaments being returned to the family of Veenaben Agheda, one of the deceased. “Each and every found item will be returned,” Sanghavi wrote, commending the police for their dedication and transparency.
As investigations and recovery efforts continue, Patel’s actions offer a rare glimmer of humanity in the face of one of the nation’s worst aviation tragedies.