Ashok and Shobhana Patel, who had settled in the UK in 1978, lost their lives in the June 12 Flight AI-171 plane crash. After the husband’s body was identified through DNA analysis as match number 98, his family decided to take his remains home for the last rites. However, while they were on their way home in an ambulance, another DNA match — number 99 — was confirmed. It was his wife. Now, the couple will make their final journey together.

The couple’s son, Miten Patel, had arrived in Ahmedabad from London to identify his parents’ bodies. However, as none of the remains were recognisable, DNA testing had to be carried out at the Civil Hospital for identification.

The DNA sample was provided to forensic experts on Sunday, Father’s Day. On Tuesday morning, the hospital informed Miten that his father’s remains had been identified as DNA match number 98. The hospital handed over the body, which was then placed in an ambulance. Just as the ambulance was about to leave the hospital premises, Miten received another call from the Civil Hospital. This time, he was told that his mother’s body had also been identified as DNA match number 99.