The bodies of seven people killed in a plane crash in Jharkhand’s Chatra district were handed over to their families on Tuesday after post-mortem examinations at Chatra Sadar Hospital.
A health department official confirmed that the autopsies were completed and the remains released. Scenes of grief unfolded outside the hospital as relatives broke down in shock and disbelief.
The victims were on board a Beechcraft C90 air ambulance operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd when it crashed near Simaria on Monday evening.
The aircraft had taken off from Ranchi airport at 7.11 pm for Delhi but vanished from radar and air traffic control communication about 23 minutes later. Rescue teams later located the wreckage in a dense forest in Bariatu Panchayat, where difficult terrain hampered operations.
Those killed have been identified as Captain Vikas Bhagat, Captain Savrajdeep Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta, Sachin Kumar Mishra, Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar.
Also read: All seven killed in Jharkhand's air ambulance crash
Sanjay Kumar, who had suffered severe burn injuries in a separate accident, was being flown to Delhi for advanced treatment at the time of the crash.
Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed deep sorrow and assured support to the bereaved families.
In a statement, the Chief Minister said the administration had been engaged since receiving news of the “heart-wrenching incident,” describing the loss, including that of the pilots, as deeply anguishing.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. Ranchi airport director Vinod Kumar indicated that inclement weather may have been a factor, though the exact reason will be determined after a detailed probe.
A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has reached the site. The incident has intensified concerns over safety standards in India’s chartered and medical aviation sector.
Follow us
