Ahmedabad plane crash: Unburned copy of Bhagavad Gita found in wreckage of Air India AI-171

A nearly untouched copy of the Bhagavad Gita was found in the wreckage of the Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad. The incident which occurred on Thursday, shortly after the plane took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, has claimed the lives of at least 265 individuals, including 241 passengers and crew members, and other people on ground.

The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was en route to London Gatwick when it crashed into a hostel building near Ahmedabad's BJ Medical College. The impact and the subsequent fire destroyed most of the aircraft and the air was engulfed by a thick dark smoke cloud.

However, even though the fire was highly intense, a copy of the Bhagavad Gita was recovered from the wreckage with all of its internal pages almost intact. While the outer cover of the book bore signs of heat exposure, the text inside was undamaged, with even the pictures visible. A video shared on social media shows a man flipping through the untouched pages of the holy book. The video has since then, gone viral, drawing widespread public interest.

Air India reported that the passengers who died included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizen, one Canadian, and 12 crew members. Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The only known survivor of the tragedy is a passenger identified as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who escaped with minor injuries. He was seated in seat 11A. The recovery of the Gita has been noted as a striking detail amid ongoing investigations. While some see it as symbolic, officials have made no religious interpretation. The black box has been located from the site, and efforts are ongoing to analyse data that could help determine the cause of the crash.

The discovery of the Bhagavad Gita has become a widely discussed aspect of the tragedy, standing out amid a scene otherwise marked by destruction and loss. It has sparked a debate online with many viewing it as a ‘powerful symbol of spiritual resilience’ while others questioning the existence of god.