Air India plane crash: On Father's Day, he flew to Ahmedabad to say hello to one son, goodbye to another
AHMEDABAD: It was
Father's Day
on Sunday, but Ramesh Bhaliya arrived in Ahmedabad not to receive warm hugs but to collect the mortal remains of his youngest son. The London businessman flew down to Civil Hospital here, where his younger son Ajaykumar lay in the morgue, while his eldest son Viswash was recuperating in the ward.
Viswash, who was seated on 11A of AI 171, is the sole survivor of the plane crash. Both the brothers, Viswash and Ajay, are British citizens and have come down to Ahmedabad for business.
"Ramesh is in no state to talk to anyone. He is still grappling with the tragedy," said Deepak Devji, village sarpanch from Diu who travelled to Ahmedabad to support the family. Ramesh is staying in a hotel near the hospital, while a close friend maintains watch over Viswash as he recuperates.
"No other close family members have travelled with him to the city," Deepak added.
The brothers hail from the Patelwadi area of Bucharwada village in Diu, having migrated to London several years ago to build their dreams. For 15 years, they had jointly operated a garment business in the UK and a boat business in Diu.
Seat 11A became a lifeline for Viswash since it was near the emergency exit on the ill-fated AI 171. Just across the aisle, on 11J, sat his younger brother, Ajaykumar.
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Within 30 seconds of take-off, Ajay died.
Viswash stumbled out from the burning wreckage, his survival captured in a heart-wrenching video shot by rescue workers and volunteers. It shows him staggering through the debris, bloodied and in shock, crying out: "Plane fatyo che! Plane fatyo che!" (The plane has exploded). Locals and rescue workers rushed to his aid, pulling him into an ambulance. The brothers and their uncle and aunt were among 15 residents from Diu's Bucharwada and Vanakbara villages aboard the flight.
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