Gujarat plane crash: It was to be a reunion in UK. Now, Vasad joint family mourns loss of 3 members
Rajnikant Patel with his wife Divya (centre) and sister-in-law Hemangini
VADODARA: Rajnikant Patel (58) and his wife
Divya Patel
(54) were headed to the UK on a special trip. They were going to cheer their daughter Dhvani at her convocation at Middlesex University on June 23.
Members of a joint family from Vasad in Gujarat's Anand district, they had boarded the Dreamliner from Ahmedabadaccompanied by Rajnikant's sister-in-law Hemangini Patel (58).
But what was meant to be a moment of pride and celebration turned into a nightmare as all three lost their lives in Thursday's crash.
"My cousin Dhvani is in East London. We were all so excited that she was going to receive her MBA degree. It was supposed to be a family reunion.
Instead, I'm now planning funerals," said Parth Patel, Hemangini's son, struggling to hold back tears.
The Patels, owners of the Krishna Riverside Resort in Vasad, were a tight-knit family known for their warmth and hospitality. Their home was always bustling with relatives and guests, with laughter and happy chatter ringing all around. But now, the house stands eerily quiet.
For Parth, the cruel blow comes within a year of losing his father, Arun Patel, to a heart attack.
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"And now, I've lost my mother, uncle and aunt in one stroke," said Parth. Apart from his wife and daughter, only his cousin remains from what was once a vibrant family unit. The pain has been compounded by the wait to identify the deceased. "We're waiting for our paternal aunt to arrive from the US, as her DNA sample can confirm my uncle's identity," said Parth.
The Patels were well-respected in Vasad. "Rajnikant wasn't just my neighbour, he was a dear friend. His death is a deeply personal loss," said Anand MP Mitesh Patel, who visited the grieving family on Friday along with Kheda MP Devusinh Chauhan.
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