Although all but one of the 242 onboard the Air India Boeing 787 died following the crash, it is thought the death toll of those on the ground – said to be 29 – could have been greater
The death toll of the India Air plane crash could easily have been even greater than the estimated 270 people, it is argued.
More than the 29 confirmed deaths of people on the ground would have been likely had it not been for the heroic efforts of Good Samaritans who rushed to help, according to Minakshi Parikh, dean of the college, struck by the Boeing 787. He praised the actions of quick-thinking employees and students, some of whom were having lunch and missed impact by inches upon the collision.
She said: “That is human nature, isn’t it? When our own people are injured, our first response is to help them. So the doctors who managed to escape … the first thing that they did was they went back in and dug out their colleagues who were trapped inside. They might not even have survived because the rescue teams take time coming.”
Ms Parikh believes more bodies would have pulled from the rubble had her colleagues at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad, western India, not reacted so swiftly and bravely. It is thought 29 people in the building – and on the ground below it – have been confirmed dead, in addition to 241 people on the plane itself.
READ MORE: Air India crash investigators make huge discovery that could solve mystery of final seconds
Navin Chaudhary, a trainee doctor, rushed towards a window and jumped to help search for injured colleagues and students after the impact on Thursday. He said: “There was fire and many were injured… I felt that as a doctor I could save someone’s life. I was safe. So I thought, whatever I can do, I should.”
Students also emerged from the smouldering hostel and rushed to save their friends and staff. Akshay Zala, a senior medical student, said the crash felt “like an earthquake.” He said: “I could hardly see anything as thick plumes of smoke and dust engulfed everything. I was barely able to breathe.”
Mr Zala rushed to safety, running through dust and smoke. He cleaned and bandaged a wound on his left leg then joined others at the medical college’s trauma centre to treat the injured. Many, like Ms Parikh, believe those actions and the subsequent treatment were life-saving moments.
Images of the college’s dining area shortly after the crash showed parts of the aircraft and pieces of luggage strewn on the floor. Dining plates still containing food lay on the few dusty tables that were left intact by the impact.
The development comes as an expert has claimed new footage of the Air India disaster contains pivotal clues which could help investigators uncover why the plane crashed.
Analysing a new video of the plane’s sudden descent, commercial aviator Steve Schreiber said he noticed a “protrusion on the belly of the aircraft”, with a “little grey dot” just below it.