In the wake of the Air India 171 plane crash on June 12, which killed 260 people, doctors at Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital emerged as silent heroes. The medical team at Asia’s largest hospital displayed extraordinary courage during the tragedy that claimed 260 lives a fitting reminder as the nation observes Doctor’s Day with the theme “Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers?”
For over two weeks, they worked 18 to 20-hour shifts, managing the monumental task of conducting post-mortems, DNA sampling and matching, and overseeing the dignified handover of bodies to grieving families.
The hospital, affiliated with BJ Medical College, was transformed into a war-like emergency zone within minutes of the tragedy. Dr. Rakesh Joshi, Superintendent, was performing a complex surgery when he was informed of the crash. Handing over the procedure, he immediately began coordinating the response directing teams to the trauma centre, ensuring medicine and blood supplies, and calling senior doctors to organize the action plan.
“We anticipated multiple injuries, but received mostly bodies. It was emotionally shattering,” Dr. Joshi shared.
Dr. Meenakshi Parikh, Dean of BJMC, recalled the terrifying scenes. “In just two hours, we set up a DNA profiling center to help identify the victims,” she said. Handling distraught relatives became a key part of the job, with teams offering both medical and emotional support.
Dr. Sanjay Solanki oversaw body handovers and documentation. “Handing belongings and explaining paperwork to crying families, especially those sending loved ones abroad, was heartbreaking,” he said.
Even weeks later, many residents and paramedics are still in shock. On Doctor’s Day, observed with the theme “Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers?”, these professionals exemplify quiet bravery healing others while silently bearing the weight of tragedy themselves.
