Jagran Correspondent, Gujarat: The Ahmedabad plane crash in 2025 claimed the lives of at least 270 people, sending a shockwave throughout the world. While the initial reports suggested that engine failure could be the reason behind the tragedy, the exact reason would be disclosed once the final probe report is submitted. In an exclusive interview to Jagran, Sudhir Gadhvi, the fire officer who was among the first people to arrive at the site, has shared key details of the tragedy and the rescue operation.
While providing details, Gadhvi stated that he received information about the plane crash through the airport hotline between 1.30 and 1.45 pm. Upon receiving the information, the Naroda Fire Station team arrived at the scene first, with five to six fire engines and 30 firefighters. "We noticed a lot of heat and smoke at the scene. Our team immediately took action and entered the buildings in Meghaninagar," Gadhvi stated.
'Heat Made The Operation Tough'
Gadhvi stated that the entire zone was divided into four blocks (A, B, C, D), of which blocks A and B were the most affected. He further stated that the entire rescue operation was very difficult due to the intense heat and smoke in the region. Gadhvi further stated that several people got burned due to the intense heat and fire in their attempt to escape.
He said that the fire brigade had formed teams in different blocks for the search operation, adding that his team rescued more than 15 people.
'Entire Team Was Shocked'
Gadhvi asserted that the process of evacuating the victims was extremely tough and took multiple hours due to the persistent heat and smoke. As per the firefighter, most of the bodies were taken to the Civil Hospital by the night of June 12. Gadhvi got emotional while recounting those scenes and said that it was the most terrifying experience of his 10-year career.
He also reminded that along with the passengers and the locals, several animals and birds also became victims of the tragedy.