
Air India crash: Months from being finished, Kerala nurse's dream house becomes stage of last homage
Ranjitha Gopakumaran, the nurse from Kerala's Pathanamthitta who died in the Air India flight AI 171 crash on June 12, received an emotional farewell from her state on Tuesday.
Ranjitha, 42, a native of Pullad in Pathanamthitta, was returning to her workplace – the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, England – after a brief visit to Kerala to oversee the construction of her new house and to request that the state health service extend her leave.
Her body, which was flown to Kerala from Ahmedabad on Tuesday, was taken to the premises of the house that was her dream, and where she wanted to move in three months later with her two schoolgoing children and her widowed mother.
Before being taken home, her body was taken to her alma mater, Sree Vivekanandan High School in Pullad, where thousands queued up to pay homage.
In the first week of June, Ranjitha, a single parent, had enrolled her son, Induchoodan, and daughter, Ithika, in the same school, in classes 10 and 7, respectively. She expected to return from England this year to settle in the village and rejoin the state health service as a nurse.
On June 11, the day she left for Ahmedabad to catch the flight to London the next day, Ranjitha had given detailed suggestions on the remaining construction work.
A nurse for over a decade, Ranjitha worked in Oman until 2019, when she got selected for the state health service. She returned to Kerala and joined as a staff nurse at the Pathanamthitta District Hospital in Kozhencherry.
Later, she took a long leave and went back to Oman. A year ago, Ranjitha moved to England to work with the National Health Service there.
On Tuesday, when her body reached the state capital, 12 days after the tragedy, ministers, police officials and representatives of NORKA ROOTS were among the thousands who gathered to pay homage.
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Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
AI 171 crash: 260 deaths confirmed, verification still on: Gujarat health minister
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Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Air India health scare: Passengers fall ill, cabin crew collapses at 35,000 feet; experts cite anxiety and hypoxia as factor
In another shocking incident, at least 11 individuals, including six cabin crew members, felt ill, dizzy and nauseated on an Air India flight from London to Mumbai on Monday, reported ToI. According to Air India, the airline confirmed the incident but said only five passengers and two crew members fell ill. The flight AI-130 was operated with a Boeing 777 aircraft. The aircraft that is under increased scrutiny after the Ahmedabad plane crash is the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Cause of illness on the Air India flight from London to Mumbai As per the report, the cause of illness is currently being investigated. However, poor oxygen supply can lead to hypoxia, which can lead to nausea and dizziness on the flight. While food poisoning is also suspected in the incident. A source explained that a cabin depressurisation issue might lead to reduced oxygen levels in the passenger cabin, triggering oxygen masks to deploy from the overhead panel. However, since the masks did not drop during this flight, a pressurisation problem is unlikely. The source suggested that food poisoning is a more probable cause. Air India issues statement on the incident Air India said in a statement, "On board flight AI-130 from London Heathrow to Mumbai, five passengers and two crew reported feeling dizzy and nauseous during different phases of the flight." "The flight landed safely in Mumbai, where our medical teams were ready to provide immediate medical assistance. After landing, two passengers and two cabin crew, who continued to feel unwell, were taken to the medical room for further examination and were later discharged." Anxiety plays an important role after the recent Air India plane crash During an Air India flight from London to Mumbai, 11 passengers reportedly fell ill mid-air. "It is a known fact that high altitudes can lead to dizziness because of low oxygen levels and even some changes in the cabin pressure," says Dr Manjusha Agarwal, Senior Consultant Internal Medicine, Gleneagles Hospital Parel, Mumbai. "Hence, at high altitudes, there can be reduced oxygen saturation, and one can experience symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea and vomiting, and even shortness of breath," added Dr. Agarwal. It is imperative to stay hydrated by drinking enough water, keep moving, and inform the crew at the earliest. "Remember, dehydration, inactivity, or anxiety during long-haul flights can worsen one's condition. So, stay vigilant!" suggests Dr. Agarwal. Food poisoning at 30,000 feet: Causes and prevention Food poisoning during air travel is a rare occurrence. However, there is a possibility that this can happen due to contaminated food, poor storage, or handling practices. "Risk factors include pre-prepared meals stored for long hours, improper refrigeration, and eating undercooked meat or dairy. Passengers with weaker immunity, like the elderly or young children, can fall sick," warns Dr Ahmed Khan, Internal Medicine, Consultant Diabetologist & Infectious Disease Specialist, Medicover Hospitals, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. Dr. Khan, "It is necessary to opt for freshly cooked or sealed food, avoid raw or uncooked items, and drink bottled water. Hand hygiene is important, so use a hand sanitiser before eating. In case one has a sensitive stomach, then it will be a good idea to carry light snacks from home."


Indian Express
14 hours ago
- Indian Express
Air India crash: Months from being finished, Kerala nurse's dream house becomes stage of last homage
Ranjitha Gopakumaran, the nurse from Kerala's Pathanamthitta who died in the Air India flight AI 171 crash on June 12, received an emotional farewell from her state on Tuesday. Ranjitha, 42, a native of Pullad in Pathanamthitta, was returning to her workplace – the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, England – after a brief visit to Kerala to oversee the construction of her new house and to request that the state health service extend her leave. Her body, which was flown to Kerala from Ahmedabad on Tuesday, was taken to the premises of the house that was her dream, and where she wanted to move in three months later with her two schoolgoing children and her widowed mother. Before being taken home, her body was taken to her alma mater, Sree Vivekanandan High School in Pullad, where thousands queued up to pay homage. In the first week of June, Ranjitha, a single parent, had enrolled her son, Induchoodan, and daughter, Ithika, in the same school, in classes 10 and 7, respectively. She expected to return from England this year to settle in the village and rejoin the state health service as a nurse. On June 11, the day she left for Ahmedabad to catch the flight to London the next day, Ranjitha had given detailed suggestions on the remaining construction work. A nurse for over a decade, Ranjitha worked in Oman until 2019, when she got selected for the state health service. She returned to Kerala and joined as a staff nurse at the Pathanamthitta District Hospital in Kozhencherry. Later, she took a long leave and went back to Oman. A year ago, Ranjitha moved to England to work with the National Health Service there. On Tuesday, when her body reached the state capital, 12 days after the tragedy, ministers, police officials and representatives of NORKA ROOTS were among the thousands who gathered to pay homage.