Ahmedabad, June 12: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel paid tribute to former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on the anniversary of his passing. He reflected on Rupani’s leadership, public service, and contributions to the state, while local leaders also shared their condolences.
On the social media platform X, the Chief Minister wrote, “On the death anniversary of former Chief Minister Vijaybhai Rupani, I offer my heartfelt tribute. The late Vijaybhai’s gentle, sensitive, and simple personality, along with his transparent and decisive leadership during Gujarat’s development journey, will always be remembered, as will his contributions as the state president of the Gujarat BJP.”
BJP state president Jagdish Vishwakarma also honored Rupani on this significant day.
Vishwakarma posted on X, “On the first death anniversary of former Chief Minister, former state president of BJP, and senior leader, the late Vijaybhai Rupani, we pay our deepest respects and heartfelt tribute. His contributions to strengthening the organization and elevating Gujarat’s development are unforgettable. His simplicity and dedication to public welfare will continue to guide us.”
Vijay Rupani, who served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021, tragically lost his life on June 12 last year when Air India Flight AI-171 crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.
According to official reports, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London, collided with the BJ Medical College hostel complex in the Meghani Nagar area. The crash resulted in the deaths of 241 of the 242 passengers on board, along with 19 individuals on the ground.
This incident was one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent years, causing widespread mourning across the nation. Emergency teams conducted extensive rescue and identification efforts.
The sole survivor of the crash was British citizen Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, who managed to escape from seat 11A.
Authorities later confirmed that due to severe burns and injuries from the collision, DNA testing was required for the identification of many victims, and hundreds of personnel were deployed for recovery and investigation efforts. Rupani was among those who perished, with his identity confirmed through DNA analysis.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is still probing the cause of the crash. Initial investigations indicated potential technical and operational issues, but no final conclusions have been released yet.
Following the incident, the site underwent significant changes. Under the state government‘s redevelopment plans, the damaged BJ Medical College hostel complex will be rebuilt as a major facility.
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