Newly engaged couple among Air India crash victims
More than 240 people were killed on Thursday when a Boeing 787 bound for Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad.
Prayers have been taking place at a temple in Leicester on Saturday to remember the victims, including local volunteer Hardik Avaiya and his fiancee Vibhooti Patel.
Mr Avaiya, who regularly helped out at the Shree Hanuman Temple in Melton Road, was described by the temple's secretary as a "model devotee and volunteer".
The plane was carrying 242 people when it crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, in western India.
There were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on the flight.
The Leicester temple held a hymn festival to pray for all victims and come to terms with the tragedy.
Dhaval Patel, who worked with Mr Avaiya, said: "We were on our way to pick him up when I got a call to say a plane to Gatwick had crashed in Ahmedabad.
"So we immediately checked the ticket and matched the flight number and we just cried."
Staff said Mr Avaiya attended a couple of times a week to help with events at the temple.
Mr Patel said: "He didn't like the limelight, he just worked in the background to get things done.
"He was jovial, liked to crack a joke. He was dedicated, hard working, very pleasant.
"He was model devotee and volunteer because he had selfless service."
"When he left he asked the staff if the temple needed anything bringing back, that's the kind of person he was."
While the staff at the temple heard about the crash early on, news of the casualties only came through afterwards and confirmation came from Mr Avaiya's friends.
Mr Patel said: "We were absolutely devastated, its like losing a family member.
"Events like this people come together and give their respects and gives us some sort of a release from the feeling of shock and feeling distraught.
"It's a feeling of helplessness, emptiness, normally if something goes wrong, we can sort things out but this has been very difficult."
Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.
Doctor and family among Air India crash victims
Black box found at Air India crash site as families wait for answers
Who are the victims of the Air India plane crash?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Monsoon Rains Bring Mumbai to a Standstill
Torrential downpours in Mumbai brought India's financial capital to a near standstill on Monday and Tuesday, disrupting travel, stranding commuters and forcing thousands to wade through water, some of it waist-deep, to reach their homes and offices. Although heavy monsoons are common in Mumbai, scientists at the Indian Meteorological Department expect the city to surpass the record for August of 48 inches of rainfall, set in 2020. More than 300 people were evacuated from low-lying areas along a nine-mile stretch of the Mithi River that flows through Mumbai because it had reached dangerous levels. In July 2005, the river breached its banks in catastrophic floods that killed 900 people. With an estimated 18 million people, Mumbai is the capital of the western Indian state of Maharashtra. More than 1,000 people were evacuated from other parts of the state because of heavy rains, which killed at least five people, according to state disaster management officials. With local train service in Mumbai disrupted by rains, commuters crowded into the city's elevated monorails as an alternative. On Tuesday, two elevated trains were temporarily stuck between stations, trapping nearly 800 passengers for hours. Shrijita Bhattacharya, a lawyer in Mumbai, said it took her twice as long to reach home from the airport on Monday because of road logjams. 'Traffic was moving at snail's pace on some parts on my way,' Ms. Bhattacharya said. By Wednesday, though, Ms. Bhattarcharya said things were 'mostly already normal,' as she made her way to the airport.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Record rains bring Mumbai to a standstill, in photos
India Weather MUMBAI, India (AP) — The monsoon season has brought parts of Mumbai, India's financial and entertainment capital, to a halt. The disruption has hit local trains, a lifeline of the city's transport system. Many areas are inundated with knee-deep water, forcing people to wade through the floods. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Associated Press
11 hours ago
- Associated Press
Record rains bring Mumbai to a standstill, in photos
MUMBAI, India (AP) — The monsoon season has brought parts of Mumbai, India's financial and entertainment capital, to a halt. The disruption has hit local trains, a lifeline of the city's transport system. Many areas are inundated with knee-deep water, forcing people to wade through the floods. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
