Newlywed from Rajasthan on way to meet husband in UK among victims of Gujarat air crash
Among the 242 people on board the ill-fated Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad was 21-year-old Khushboo, a newlywed from Rajasthan's Balotra district. She was on her way to London to join her husband, a doctor based in the UK.Khushboo had reached Ahmedabad on Wednesday night with her father and cousin. Her father, Madan Singh, had clicked a photo with her at the airport before departure and shared it on WhatsApp with the message: 'Ashirwad Khushboo beta, going to London.'
advertisementMoments later, the family was driving back when news of the crash shattered their world.
Khushboo got married to Vipul in January this year. Vipul had returned to London, where he works as a doctor, just two months after the wedding.Khushboo had since been staying between at her marital and parental homes, waiting for her passport and travel papers to be finalised.Her departure was an emotional moment for the family. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she hugged her mother and siblings before leaving home. Her father, who runs a sweets shop and farms in the village, was driving the car, accompanied by his nephew.Local BJP youth leader Durga Singh Rajpurohit confirmed that the family left the village on Wednesday and reached Ahmedabad late at night. Khushboo's younger siblings — two sisters and a brother — are now left grappling with the sudden loss.advertisementThe London-bound flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, took off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm on Thursday. Just minutes into the journey, it issued a mayday call and crashed into a government hospital hostel near the airport. The aircraft burst into flames on impact, leaving behind a trail of devastation.Officials confirmed that 204 people were killed and 41 others were injured, many of them critically. The Indian Medical Association said three medical students were among the deceased, while several others were injured. Among the victims were nationals from India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada.Government agencies, including the Army, NDRF, and CISF launched a large-scale rescue operation. Flight operations at the airport were temporarily halted and later resumed. An investigation led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is underway to determine the cause of the crash.
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We built this Group on trust and care. It is a difficult moment, but we will not retreat from our responsibilities, from doing what is right. We will carry this loss. We will not forget. top videos View all Sincerely, Chandra." About the Author First Published: June 13, 2025, 18:21 IST
