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Always happy, never upset: Lone Canadian victim of Air India crash remembered

Always happy, never upset: Lone Canadian victim of Air India crash remembered

India Today13-06-2025
An Indo-Canadian doctor, Nirali Sureshkumar Patel, was among the 265 people killed in the Air India flight AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad. She was in India for a family visit and was returning to Canada on Thursday when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner went down shortly after take-off. She was the lone Canadian national on board the ill-fated plane.People who knew her back in Canada in grief remembered her as an always cheerful woman.advertisementPatel is survived by her husband and two children.
The 32-year-old dentist graduated from Government Dental College and Hospital in Ahmedabad and was known for her compassionate spirit and voluntary service in free dental camps.Patel's husband spoke to the news agency, The Canadian Press, and confirmed that he was rushing to India soon.He refused to provide his full name to the media and requested privacy for the family. "I am not in a state to speak right now," her husband told The Canadian Press.NIRALI PATEL BELIEVED GIVING BACK TO SOCIETYNirali Patel worked at the Heritage Dental Centre in Mississauga in the Greater Toronto Area.According to the clinic's website, she was a dedicated and hard-working individual who believed in giving back to the community and volunteered at a free dental camp each year.advertisementShe chose dentistry to make a difference in people's lives. In her own words, "The feeling that my work has made a difference in someone's life brightens my day!", according to her profile page on the clinic's website."Her hard-working nature and dedication to her patients drive her to continue expanding her knowledge of dentistry while giving back to her community. Once per year, Dr Patel offers free treatments to her patients and often volunteers at a free dental camp (sic)," the profile added.Nirali completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree in 2016 from Gujarat. She received her licence in Canada in 2019, CTV News reported, citing the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.CANADIAN LEADERS EXPRESS CONDOLENCESCanadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was "devastated" by news of the crash and confirmed that one Canadian was aboard the flight. He added that he was receiving regular updates on the situation, according to a report in CBC.Victor Campagn, the manager of the building where Nirali's office is located, told CBC that he felt terrible for the family as she had two young children. "She was amazing, always happy. I have never seen her upset," he said.Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, in a social media post, expressed grief over Nirali's untimely death.advertisement"On behalf of the people of Ontario, I extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of every victim. We are keeping you in our thoughts during this difficult time," Ford wrote."It's absolutely shocking. There's no words in this grievance (sic)," CTV News Toronto quoted a community leader, Don Patel, as saying, who knows the family well. Patel said Nirali was on a four or five-day visit to India.Don also said Nirali's parents, brother, and sister-in-law live in Brampton. "I spoke to her brother very briefly this morning (Thursday) while we were trying to help and arrange their travel (to India)," Don said.He added that her brother was in shock and wasn't able to talk much. "We'll try to give them strength, whichever way we can. Sometimes, words might not help them, but moral support or just showing (up) and being there with them gives them so much strength," Don also said.Trending Reel
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