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Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
AI crash: Agra couple's daughter gives DNA sample for identification of bodies
Agra: A day after the Air India Dreamliner crashed in Ahmedabad, the family of an Agra-based couple travelled to the city to gather information and initiate the process of claiming the bodies. Neeraj Lavania (51) and his wife, Aparna Lavania (50), among the passengers on the ill-fated London-bound flight, were planning a vacation in the UK, where a relative resides. S peaking to TOI, Neeraj's elder brother Satish Lavania said, "I reached Ahmedabad this afternoon, and we are making all efforts to obtain details. The couple's daughter has already submitted her DNA sample as mandated by the authorities." Regarding the couple's final rites, he said, "We are yet to decide whether the cremation will take place in Agra or Vadodara. Neeraj's in-laws live in Vadodara, and we'll consult with them before proceeding. I'd also like to thank Fatehpur Sikri MP Rajkumar Chahar for facilitating our air tickets from Delhi to Ahmedabad." Originally from Agra's Akola block, Neeraj had relocated to Vadodara around 17 years ago for work after completing his education at Agra College. He held a senior position at NielsenIQ in Vadodara. The couple's daughter, Arpana Lavania (18), is currently pursuing her graduation in Vadodara. Rajeev Saraswat, a BSF sub-inspector and Neeraj's childhood friend, said, "We studied together. I'm devastated by the news of their deaths. Neeraj had a big heart and always stepped forward to help others." Air India confirmed early Friday that only one of the 242 people onboard flight AI171 to Gatwick survived. The aircraft crashed soon after take-off from Ahmedabad. The flight was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals and 1 Canadian national. The sole survivor is a British national of Indian origin. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Ahmedabad crash leaves Agra town sleepless
A house in sleepy Akola town in Agra district was getting concerned visitors on Thursday evening. Satish Lavania resides here and is the elder brother of Neeraj Kumar Lavania, who along with his wife, Aparna, was on the London flight which crashed on Thursday afternoon with most of the passengers feared killed. 'Neeraj called me on Thursday morning and informed me that he was in a cab on the way to Ahmedabad with Aparna to board the flight for London later in the day. They were on a holiday tour and excited but soon it all changed,' said Lavania. 'Neeraj comes once in a year to Akola and was last here in November 2024 when our father died and he came to attend his last rites. He had his primary education here in Akola and did graduation from Agra College in Agra before moving, 15 years ago, to Gujarat for higher studies and did MBA,' Lavania said. 'He worked in the Netherlands for an IT firm and had been to European countries and had settled in Vadodara with his wife and a daughter pursuing graduation,' he added. A concerned MP from Fatepur Sikri, Agra rural, Raj Kumar Chahar said, 'Official confirmation about the names of Neeraj and Aparna in the list of deceased is yet to be received. The Agra district magistrate is in touch with Ahmedabad authorities and SDM, Kiraoli, Sachin Rajput, is here from the district administration. Neeraj's daughter is reaching the hospital in Ahmedabad from Vadodara, where she lives with her maternal grandmother.' 'I was aware about the departure of my brother in flight for London and saw breaking news on TV channels informing of the crash. I called my niece (daughter of Neeraj) who confirmed that her parents had boarded the flight, with seat no. 26 A and B, that crashed with most feared dead,' said Lavania. It has been reported that dead bodies are to be handed over to family members only after DNA tests for identification of charred bodies.
