Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran on Thursday announced that the company will provide Rs 1 crore to the families of each person who lost their life in the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad.

He also said that the Tata Group will cover the medical expenses of those who were injured and ensure they receive full care and support.

In a statement, Chandrasekaran said: "No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones, and with those who have been injured."

He added that the Tata Group would also help build a new hostel at B.J. Medical College as part of its support efforts.

Amid the nationwide mourning over the deaths in the Ahmedabad air crash, all eyes will be on the findings of the inquiry, as any "omission" on the part of the airline may have huge implications on the subsequent award of compensation.

The Carriage by Air Act 1972 is the guiding statute on the compensation that the victims and their kin get in the event of injury or death, and the final relief amount would be higher than the limited liability of the carrier if any "omission" on its part is proved.

Tension gripped several areas of Odisha's Bhadrak district on Thursday after a person, who sustained injuries in an attack by cattle smugglers on May 30, succumbed to his injuries.

As per reports, the relatives and locals staged a road blockade, keeping the body of the deceased on NH-16 in Bhadrak town.

The police and district administration immediately rushed to the spot and tried to disperse the protesters.

Santosh Parida, 45, of Kasati village under Tihidi police limits, succumbed to the injuries while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.

He was reportedly assaulted by the cattle smugglers while returning home on May 30.

In a major breakthrough in the ongoing anti-Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh, security forces recovered the bodies of two senior Maoists following an intense encounter in the forested terrain of Dunampara Pusgunna within Kukanar police station in the Sukma district, officials said on Thursday.

The deceased have been identified as Muchaki Baman, a commander of the Katekalyan Area Committee carrying a bounty of Rs 5 lakh, and senior Maoist cadre Anita Avalam, both considered key operatives in the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist outfit.

The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane Flight AI-171 that met with a devastating fate on Thursday, just minutes after take-off from the city airport, was steered by highly experienced and seasoned pilots, both of whom had flying experience of running into thousands of hours.

The wide-body aircraft was operated by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with about 8,200 hours of flying experience while his co-pilot was First Officer Clive Kundar, having logged a whopping 1,100 flying hours.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the passenger plane crashed immediately after take-off from Runway 23 of Ahmedabad.

An Air India flight AI-171 travelling from Ahmedabad to London's Gatwick Airport crashed just minutes after takeoff on Thursday, prompting the closure of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport for all operations.

The plan crashed into a residential hostel for intern doctors shortly after takeoff, igniting a massive blaze and leaving a trail of destruction.

More than eight people are suspected dead, with dozens more injured or missing.

According to preliminary reports, the aircraft's wing clipped the third, fourth and fifth floors of the multi-storey hostel building near Meghani Nagar.

A London-bound Air India aircraft carrying 130 passengers crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport. This took place near Meghaninagar area in Ahmedabad.

Visuals from the crash site showed thick plume of grey smoking rising from the ground.

Firefighters and emergency teams were dispatched immediately to begin rescue and containment efforts. Officials are yet to release information about possible injuries or the cause of the crash.

Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area as operations are still underway.

The Gujarat government has officially closed all 27 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the state to tourists for a period of four months, from June 16 to October 15.

This annual closure aims to protect wildlife during the crucial breeding season, particularly mammals, birds, and reptiles, by minimising human interference. A notification was recently issued by the office of the Conservator of Forests in Gandhinagar, following a directive from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.

The decision reiterates the state's commitment to conservation by ensuring that the habitats remain undisturbed during this sensitive phase of the animal life cycle.

As part of this closure, popular destinations like Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary in Sanand will also remain off-limits to visitors for the entire 120-day period. Tourist access will resume after October 15, 2025, once the mating and nesting activities conclude.

In view of continuous heavy rainfall and the heightened risk of landslides and flooding, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from Ranipet and Arakkonam have been deployed in the Nilgiris and Coimbatore.

The deployment comes after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for the Nilgiris district on Thursday (June 12) and Friday (June 13).

The Nilgiris, Coimbatore, and the adjoining hilly regions are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated areas likely to witness extremely heavy downpours exceeding 204.4 mm over the next two days.

Gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph are also forecast to accompany the rain, posing additional risk to vulnerable areas.

Tension prevailed in the Maheshtala area of South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, as police crackdown on protesters continued on Thursday. So far, 18 have been arrested.

The arrests were made during a joint operation by the West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police, which started on Wednesday night and continued till Thursday morning in connection with the clashes that broke out on Wednesday afternoon.

While 14 were arrested on Wednesday night only, the remaining four were arrested early Thursday morning, a senior official of the state police confirmed.

However, the overall situation in the Maheshtala area continued to be quite tense, with most of the shops remaining closed even on Thursday morning.