As OF Saturday evening, blood samples had been collected from 247 victims of the tragic Air India AI171 plane crash in Ahmedabad. The samples will be used for DNA testing and identification of the victims, confirmed officials at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. 

On Saturday morning, the NDRF recovered one more body from the crash site, taking the total toll to 271. The aircraft, which was entangled with the debris of the medical college hostel it crashed into, was removed yesterday and placed on the ground. The body — believed to be that of an air hostess — was then recovered from the wreckage. All four hostels were also vacated, and doctors moved to other places.

“The London-bound flight was carrying a lot of fuel for the long-haul flight, which resulted in an intense blaze after the crash. Due to the massive explosion and fire, the bodies were charred beyond recognition, and many of them were missing body parts,” a staff member from the hospital’s autopsy department informed this paper. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier said there was around 1.25 lakh litres of fuel on the aircraft.