Overview

• A team of five senior residents and five consultants from BJMC’s Department of Psychiatry has been offering round-the-clock psychological first aid to victims’ families.
• Authorities have confirmed the identities of 259 passengers, including 199 Indians and 60 nationals from the UK, Portugal and Canada.
• Families endured waits of up to 72 hours and, in one case, seven days for DNA matching that intensified uncertainty and stress.
• Counselors managed intense emotional reactions, including denial, anger and survivor guilt, and guided relatives through stages of grief using empathetic listening.
• Medical teams discouraged relatives from identifying bodies directly to prevent further trauma and administered anti-anxiety medication when needed.