Ahmedabad, June 16 – Former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani, will be accorded a state funeral today following his tragic demise in a catastrophic plane crash on Thursday afternoon. The incident, which has shaken the nation, occurred shortly after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner (flight A171) took off from Ahmedabad Airport.
The aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew members, including Rupani, crashed into the premises of a medical college in the Meghani Nagar area, causing widespread panic and devastation. Emergency services rushed to the scene immediately, but there were no survivors reported from the crash site as of the latest updates.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash, with aviation experts citing the need to examine black box data and flight communication logs. Preliminary reports suggest a potential technical malfunction, though foul play has not been ruled out.
Rupani, who served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021, was en route to New Delhi for a party strategy meeting. A respected figure within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he was known for his administrative acumen and low-profile yet impactful leadership.
The Gujarat government has announced a day of mourning, with flags flying at half-mast across all state offices. Political leaders across party lines have expressed grief and condolences, remembering Rupani’s contributions to Gujarat’s development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who shared a close political association with Rupani, expressed profound sorrow and is expected to attend the funeral, which will take place at the Hatkeshwar Crematorium in Ahmedabad under full state honours.
