Lagatar24 Desk
Ahmedabad: Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s mortal remains will be flown from Ahmedabad Civil Hospital to Rajkot after post-mortem today. Family members and supporters will pay their last respects in Rajkot, where his final rites will be conducted with full state honours at 5 PM. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will attend the funeral.
Rupani Among 265 Victims Of Air India Crash
Vijay Rupani tragically lost his life in the Air India Boeing 787 crash on June 12 while traveling to London to visit his daughter. Moments after takeoff, the plane crashed into the BJ Medical College building, killing 265 people. Only one passenger, Vishwesh Kumar Ramesh, survived the accident.
Identification Through DNA, 92 Bodies Identified So Far
Rupani’s body was identified through DNA testing, matched with samples provided by his nephew Animesh Rupani, as confirmed by Gujarat ministers Rishikesh Patel and Jagdish Vishwakarma. So far, 92 bodies have been identified, with 47 handed over to families. Authorities are continuing the identification and handover process for 13 more victims, while many families remain at the post-mortem facility.
From Student Activist To Chief Minister
Born on August 2, 1956, in Myanmar (then Rangoon), Vijay Rupani’s family returned to India in the 1960s and settled in Rajkot. He began his political journey as a student activist with ABVP, Jan Sangh, and RSS. After spending 11 months in jail during the Emergency, he entered active politics, serving as a municipal councillor, Rajkot Mayor, Rajya Sabha MP, state minister, Gujarat BJP president, and eventually as the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021.
End Of An Era
Vijay Rupani was not just a leader but a towering figure in Gujarat’s political landscape, earning public trust through grassroots leadership and simplicity. With his passing, Gujarat has lost a composed, principled, and humble statesman.
