The man who lived battles survivor's guilt
Ahmedabad: On June 12, as London-bound flight AI 171 lifted off from Ahmedabad airport, Viswashkumar Ramesh and his younger brother Ajay exchanged a final wave from seats 11A and 11J.
Minutes later, the plane plummeted into the BJ Medical College hostel and mess in Meghaninagar, killing 241 people on board, including Ajay. Only Viswash lived. Now back in his hometown of Bucharwadi in Diu, survival offers him no comfort. The 40-year-old businessman from Leicester reportedly battles sleeplessness. He barely speaks as he drifts through the days, lost in grief, questions and survivor's guilt.
Though back with family, Viswash remains haunted by what he lived through, and more so, by who didn't.
"He keeps asking: why only me? If I lived, why not my brother and the others?" shares Sunny Ramesh, youngest of the four siblings. The survivor's trauma runs deep. Sunny says Viswash has been "unable to sleep" since the tragedy. "How can anyone sleep if their younger brother dies like this? When Viswash realized that he had survived, he thought that Ajay must have made it too.
He was shattered when he found out that he was the sole survivor.
He is having a tough time accepting this fact," he adds.
Even as his miraculous survival made global headlines, the family has shielded him from visitors and media, avoiding talk of the crash. "We avoid asking questions about the plane crash due to his mental state. He's not ready for questions so we have kept him away from others. Right now, our only goal is to help him heal," Sunny said. When the plane crashed, Viswash was the only person who got thrown from the emergency exit window.
And by sheer chance, he landed on a mound of soil deposited near the hostel building for construction work.
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While Viswash's body survived, his mind remained trapped in that moment, says Sunny. "He is unable to forget those harrowing moments in which he lost Ajay. He is also haunted by the deaths of the other passengers," he adds. Meanwhile, police have not yet taken Viswash's statement, and Sunny says his brother will not be in any condition to provide one until he has fully recovered, both mentally and physically.
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Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
The man who lived battles survivor's guilt
Ahmedabad: On June 12, as London-bound flight AI 171 lifted off from Ahmedabad airport, Viswashkumar Ramesh and his younger brother Ajay exchanged a final wave from seats 11A and 11J. Minutes later, the plane plummeted into the BJ Medical College hostel and mess in Meghaninagar, killing 241 people on board, including Ajay. Only Viswash lived. Now back in his hometown of Bucharwadi in Diu, survival offers him no comfort. The 40-year-old businessman from Leicester reportedly battles sleeplessness. He barely speaks as he drifts through the days, lost in grief, questions and survivor's guilt. Though back with family, Viswash remains haunted by what he lived through, and more so, by who didn't. "He keeps asking: why only me? If I lived, why not my brother and the others?" shares Sunny Ramesh, youngest of the four siblings. The survivor's trauma runs deep. Sunny says Viswash has been "unable to sleep" since the tragedy. "How can anyone sleep if their younger brother dies like this? When Viswash realized that he had survived, he thought that Ajay must have made it too. He was shattered when he found out that he was the sole survivor. He is having a tough time accepting this fact," he adds. Even as his miraculous survival made global headlines, the family has shielded him from visitors and media, avoiding talk of the crash. "We avoid asking questions about the plane crash due to his mental state. He's not ready for questions so we have kept him away from others. Right now, our only goal is to help him heal," Sunny said. When the plane crashed, Viswash was the only person who got thrown from the emergency exit window. And by sheer chance, he landed on a mound of soil deposited near the hostel building for construction work. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad While Viswash's body survived, his mind remained trapped in that moment, says Sunny. "He is unable to forget those harrowing moments in which he lost Ajay. He is also haunted by the deaths of the other passengers," he adds. Meanwhile, police have not yet taken Viswash's statement, and Sunny says his brother will not be in any condition to provide one until he has fully recovered, both mentally and physically.
India Gazette
8 hours ago
- India Gazette
Words can't capture what we feel: Air India CEO at Memorial for AI171 Crew
New Delhi [India], June 25 (ANI): Air India held a memorial service on Tuesday at its corporate headquarters in Gurugram to pay tributes to the members flight crew who lost their lives in the tragic AI171 accident. During the event, company CEO Campbell Wilson said, 'Words can't capture what we feel. We have a shared responsibility to honour our colleagues' memory, their service'. As per the source within the airline, the heartfelt ceremony was attended by employees across departments and live-streamed to all Air India offices and the airline's Training Academy, allowing staff across the country to come together in remembrance. According to airline sources, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson addressed employees during the service. Struggling to hold back his emotions, Wilson acknowledged the depth of collective grief, saying, 'There are no words that can truly capture what we're feeling. Each of us will carry this loss in our own way, but together, we have a shared responsibility -- to honour our colleagues' memory, their service, and their spirit through the way we move forward.' The source shared that the service opened with a moment of silence, followed by moving tributes from colleagues who knew the crew personally. Several cabin crew members and pilots spoke about the colleagues and friends they lost, recalling heartwarming memories. One crew member recited a touching poem written in memory of the fallen, while another shared the last voice note they received from a crew member on board AI171 -- a deeply emotional moment that brought many to tears. The ceremony concluded with a candlelighting and floral tribute. Employees gathered around a memorial display adorned with photos of the AI171 crew, lighting candles and offering flowers in silent tribute. 'Many could not hold back their tears,' the source added. 'It was a moment of shared grief and profound respect.' The tragedy of AI171 has left a deep void within the Air India family. But yesterday's memorial, as described by the airline's source, served as a powerful reflection of unity, remembrance, and the enduring bond among those who take to the skies. On June 12, a London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area of Gujarat's Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The tragedy claimed 241 lives out of 242 onboard. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was headed to London with 230 passengers and 12 crew members. (ANI)
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Cargo ship delivering 3,000 vehicles to Mexico sinks in Pacific Ocean weeks after catching fire
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