India • Jun 16, 2025

'Tied hands with wet clothes to lift bodies': SDRF official on Air India crash

On June 12, an Air India Dreamliner crashed in Ahmedabad, claiming 241 lives, including former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani. In the chaos that followed, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) stepped up with a fast and determined rescue effort. SDRF-ASP Sheetal Gujar shared how her team faced extreme conditions to help survivors.

TL;DR

'Our work made up 70-80% of all rescue operations'

The SDRF acted quickly, teaming up with firefighters and bringing in essential rescue gear. Within just half an hour, they got 20-30 more ambulances on site. Despite dangerous heat and smoke, the team entered burning areas using oxygen masks and wet cloths to reach trapped people. Gujar said their work made up about 70-80% of all rescue operations—showing just how crucial their role was that day.