Six days after the tragic Air India plane crash that claimed 279 lives, the process of identifying the deceased through DNA matching is underway on a war footing.

Authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of the victims as many bodies were charred beyond recognition or damaged. Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani was among the 242 passengers and crew members on board the London-bound Air India flight AI-171 that crashed in Ahmedabad.

At least 190 victims of last week's Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad have so far been identified through DNA matching and 159 bodies handed over to their families, an official said on Wednesday.