Ahmedabad, June 12: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel paid tribute to former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on his death anniversary on Friday. He remembered Rupani’s leadership, public service, and contributions to the state, as various leaders from the region also shared their messages of remembrance.
On the social media platform X, the Chief Minister wrote, “On the death anniversary of former Chief Minister Vijaybhai Rupani, I offer my heartfelt tribute. The gentle, sensitive, and simple personality of the late Vijaybhai, along with his transparent and decisive leadership in Gujarat’s development journey, his contributions, and his role as the state president of the Gujarat BJP will always be memorable.”
BJP state president Jagdish Vishwakarma also paid tribute to Rupani on his first death anniversary. He wrote on X, “On the first death anniversary of former Chief Minister, former state president of BJP, and senior leader, the late Vijaybhai Rupani, we pay our deepest respects and heartfelt tribute. His contributions to strengthening the organization and elevating Gujarat’s development to new heights are unforgettable. His simplicity and dedication to public welfare will always guide us.”
Vijay Rupani, who served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021, tragically lost his life on June 12 last year shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad when Air India flight AI-171 crashed.
According to government reports, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route to London, collided with the hostel complex of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area. The crash resulted in the deaths of 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 individuals on the ground, marking one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent years, which sent shockwaves across the country. Emergency teams conducted extensive rescue and identification efforts.
The sole survivor of the crash was British citizen Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, who managed to escape from seat 11A. Later, officials confirmed that due to severe burns and damage from the collision, DNA tests were required for the identification of many victims, and hundreds of personnel were deployed for recovery and investigation efforts.
Among the deceased was Rupani, whose identity was later confirmed through DNA analysis. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is still investigating the cause of the crash. Preliminary investigations pointed towards technical and operational factors, but no final conclusions have been released yet.
Following the incident, significant changes were made at the crash site. Under the state government’s redevelopment plans, the damaged hostel complex of BJ Medical College is set to be rebuilt as a major facility.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
