When a tragic plane crash struck near BJ Medical College in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, 56-year-old construction businessman Raju Patel was among the first civilians to respond. Living just minutes away, Patel and his team reached the crash site within five minutes of the incident. What they encountered was a harrowing scene- raging flames, thick smoke, and desperate cries for help. "The fire was too intense initially- we couldn’t even get close for the first 15 to 20 minutes," Patel recounted.
Once emergency services, including the fire brigade and 108 ambulances, began arriving, he and his team jumped into action. With no medical stretchers available, they improvised with sarees and bedsheets to carry the injured to safety.
Rescue operation amidst chaos and a search for belongings
By 4:00 pm on June 12 (Thursday), as rescue operations stabilised, Patel and his team shifted focus to recovering personal belongings scattered across the crash site. They meticulously sifted through burnt luggage and wreckage, uncovering valuable items including-
70 tolas of gold jewellery
Rs 80,000 in cash
Bangles and other ornaments
Passports and other important documents
A copy of the Bhagavad Gita
All the recovered materials were promptly handed over to the authorities. Patel and his associates were permitted to continue their efforts at the site until 9:00 pm.
Commitment to humanity
“I’m just grateful we could do something,” Patel said. A veteran volunteer during the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts, Patel described this plane crash as the most devastating incident he had witnessed. “The destruction and loss caused by this crash is something I will never forget,” he shared.
Official statement by Gujarat minister 
On Sunday (June 16), Minister of State (MoS) for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, confirmed that authorities are actively collecting and documenting the belongings of the victims. These items will be returned to the families of the deceased.