Rajesh Patel, who was among the first responders following the Ahmedabad plane crash on June 12, returned to the scene soon after carrying bodies and many injured to ambulances. He began rummaging through the smouldering wreckage.

Mr. Patel, 57, said he collected nearly 70 tolas of gold ornaments, which would be priceless for the victims' kin, ₹50,000 and a few U.S. dollars from the scene of the deadly aviation tragedy and handed them over to the police.