Vijay Rupani, Former Chief Minister has been confirmed as one of the victims in the Air India flight AI171 crash that happened earlier today in Ahmedabad.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, carrying 242 passengers and crew.
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The former minister, Rupani was 68 years of age and was traveling in business class to meet his family in London.
Union Minister and Gujarat BJP president C.R. Patil confirmed his death, calling it a significant loss for the BJP.
The crash, which occurred in the Meghani Nagar area, killed 241 people, with only one reported survivor.
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This marks the second time a former Gujarat CM has died in an air disaster, following Balwantrai Mehta in 1965.
Rescue operations are ongoing, and the black box has been recovered for investigation.