All government and private schools in Rajkot district will remain shut on Saturday as a mark of respect following the death of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in the Air India Flight AI-171 crash near Ahmedabad on Thursday.
The Rajkot district administration made the announcement late Friday evening and requested all educational institutions to observe a two-minute silence in Rupani’s memory.
Rupani, 68, was among the 241 people on board the flight headed to London’s Gatwick Airport when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in the Meghani Nagar area. The crash left several dead and many others injured.
Rupani, who began his political career in Rajkot and represented the city as an MLA for multiple terms, served as Gujarat CM between 2016 and 2021. During his tenure, he was credited with initiating key infrastructure and administrative reforms.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the crash site on Friday, also met survivors undergoing treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Later, he visited Rupani’s family at the GujSail building and offered condolences.
“Vijaybhai’s passing is unimaginable. We worked together for decades, including during very difficult times,” the PM said on X.
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel called the incident a “tragedy beyond words” and said the state had responded swiftly and with empathy, under the guidance of PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Soon after the crash, over 600 fire personnel and more than 100 ambulances were rushed to the site. Rescue efforts involved teams from the Army, NDRF, SDRF, RAF, police, and fire services. A green corridor was created to ensure the quick transfer of the injured to hospitals.
Senior IAS officers, counsellors, forensic and DNA teams were also deployed to support victim identification and provide psychological support to affected families. Emergency control rooms at Civil Hospital and the SEOC remain operational round-the-clock.
The incident has sparked widespread grief across the political spectrum, with tributes pouring in for Rupani, remembered by many as a grounded and affable leader who maintained strong ties with his constituency till the end.
IANS