Ahmedabad plane crash: ‘No government can replace him', says teen victim's father

The Hindu

21 hours ago

The devastating crash of a London-bound Air India flight on Thursday (June 12, 2025) not only claimed the lives of several passengers on board but also killed several residents and bystanders when the aircraft ploughed into a building. Among the victims was 15-year-old Akashbhai Surajbhai Patani, who was sleeping on a wooden cot (khatiya) near his mother's tea stall (pushcart) when the tragedy struck.
While Akash died instantly in the flames, his mother, Sitabhen Patani, who was serving tea at her pushcart, suffered severe burns and is currently undergoing treatment at Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital. Just a few meters away from her ward, her son's body lies in the post-mortem room.
Ahmedabad plane crash LIVE updates
Sitabhen's husband, Surajbhai, an autorickshaw driver in Ahmedabad, was on duty when the crash occurred. He learned about the accident 30 minutes later and rushed to the scene, only to find his son dead. 'No government or money can replace him… he was a bright child,' Surajbhai said, sitting in his auto outside the hospital, his voice heavy with sorrow.
Akash, a Class 9 student at a local private school, had gone to his mother's tea stall to deliver her lunch. 'As she was eating, he slept on the wooden cot when the plane crashed… he was burnt alive in the flames,' said Vishalbhai, Akash's brother-in-law, who is also an auto-rickshaw driver.
The family, gathered near the morgue, struggles to process the loss. While they consider Sitabhen 'lucky' to have survived, the void left by Akash's death is irreplaceable.
Meanwhile, hundreds of grieving relatives remain on the hospital campus, waiting for confirmation on when they can claim their loved ones' bodies. Officials have reportedly informed them that DNA matching could take at least 72 hours.
Meanwhile, the bodies of victims who could be identified without DNA testing have begun to be released. Among them is Aryan Rajput, a first-year MBBS student from Gwalior, who was in his medical college hostel mess when the plane crashed into the building.
Political and social workers step in
Ellis Bridge MLA Amit Shah and Amraiwadi MLA Dr. Hasmukh Patel have stationed themselves outside BJ Medical College, assisting families with the DNA sampling process. 'We are working in six-hour shifts to help coordinate with hospital staff,' they said.
Adding to the relief efforts, a large number of RSS Swayamsevaks(volunteers) are assisting with DNA sample collection, traffic management, and providing food and water to distraught families.