Air India plane crash: Christian volunteers from Vadodara making 120 coffins

Volunteers from the local Christian community in Vadodara are racing against time, working tirelessly to build 120 wooden coffins to facilitate the dignified transport of the remains of the Ahmedabad plane crash victims to their families.

Led by father–son coffin makers Ardesh and Melvyn Rajwadi, the team had already completed 25 coffins by Saturday afternoon, 14 June, demonstrating incredible dedication in the face of tragedy.

Those involved in the work said volunteers are buying materials with their own money and would not charge a rupee more than the cost of production.

"Air India contacted us and placed an order for 120 coffins to transport the mortal remains of the plane crash victims (currently kept at the mortuary in Ahmedabad civil hospital). We started work at 9 pm on Friday [13 June] and completed 25 coffins by Saturday afternoon. We will complete 50 coffins by tonight and hand it over to the company," said Ardesh Rajwadi on Saturday evening.

Five to six volunteers from the Christian community are helping him and his father, Ardesh added.

Aldrin Thomas, one of the volunteers, said coffin making is a time-consuming task and it can take 2 hours to complete a single piece.

"These are made of plywood, which have to be cut keeping precise dimensions in mind. We have to carefully attach the cut pieces to make the rectangular coffins, before encasing it in white cloth.

"Each coffin is two feet wide and six feet long so that most bodies can be accommodated. We got together to help the Rajwadi family prepare them in time," Thomas said.