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Indian Express
11-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
‘Lost my favourite son…': In Surat, 65-year-old businessman grieves three family members who died in plane crash
Soon after real estate businessman Abdulla Nanabawa lost his son Akeel, 35, daughter-in-law Hanna, and granddaughter Sara in the June 12 plane crash, benches were placed outside his Surat home for mourners to sit on. A month later, one of the benches is still there, outside the 65-year-old's house in Rajwadi Mohalla in Surat's Rampura area. It is here that Nanabawa spends most of his time these days with a disposable bottle of water, a pack of cigarettes, and a flask containing hot tea being his constant companions. He goes inside his flat only during lunch and dinner, and sleeps for an hour – from 2 am to 3 am. Nanabawa still remembers the day of June 6, almost a week prior to the crash, when 'his favourite son' Akeel and his family, British citizens based in London, had come down to Surat to surprise him on Bakrid. Akeel ran a placement business in London while the family was based in Gloucester. 'When I reached our ancestral home, I saw Akeel recording a video on his mobile phone, accompanied by his wife and daughter. Tears rolled down my face, and I almost collapsed out of happiness. He told me that he had come down to Surat to celebrate Bakrid. This memory will remain etched in my life forever,' says Nanabawa. His friend Rashid Shaikh, 45, says Nanabawa's life has not been the same after the plane crash. 'Earlier, he used to smoke two packs of cigarettes, but now, he finishes five of them in a day. Before the air crash, he concentrated more on his business and was not seen much with his friends. Now, he spends most of his time in the mohalla, meeting people,' he adds. Shaikh says Nanabawa's friends and neighbours avoid discussing the Ahmedabad plane crash with him. 'We discuss various subjects and make him laugh, so that he returns to a normal state. He also gets irritated when we ask about his ongoing business and says: 'Money is not everything in life. What will I do with such money as I have lost my favourite son?'' Filled with nostalgia, Nanabawa narrates the story of his life — of how he got married to his cousin, a British citizen, when he was 23. They had four children: Ismail (40), Akeel, Hamza (32), and Abdul Rehman (30). The last one is visually impaired, he shares. 'I worked in various firms and earned a steady income to support my family. I owned a house worth crores, amassed wealth in London, and raised my children, providing them with a good education,' he tells The Indian Express. The couple separated and Nanabawa came back to settle down in Surat in 2011. He remarried and went on to have two sons with his second wife. Abdulla regularly visited London every two to three years to meet his sons and their children. He holds an Indian passport, unlike the rest of his family who are British. Fondly talking about Sara, 4, he says, 'She is the only girl child in my first wife's clan as well as my children's family.' Nanabawa would take Sara on rides on his motorbike to the market. He had dropped Akeel, Hanna, 31, and Sara at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12 and was returning to Surat when he got the news of the crash. He promptly returned and camped at the Civil Hospital for days, waiting to claim their bodies. On June 18, when Nanabawa was offering prayers after the burial rituals of Akeel and Hanna, he got a call that Sara's DNA had matched. He rushed to Ahmedabad to bring her remains to Surat where the three were buried. Sara was among the 13 children below 12 years of age whose DNA strains took a long time to extract. On the compensation offered by Air India and Tata Sons, he says, 'The money cannot bring my son back, what will I do with such money?' He further says, 'The Air India officials had contacted me and offered a compensation amount, but I refused it. When Ismail and Hamza were travelling to India from London to attend the burial, Air India officials at Heathrow Airport contacted them. They offered free air travel from London to India, as well as accommodation. They declined all the offers. We are not after the money. We want the truth to come out. My son Hamza has contacted a legal firm in London, and they are looking at legal options.'
Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Air India plane crash: Molars not developed, identifying minors a challenge
The Nanabawa family of Surat had just completed the namaz-e-janaza (funeral prayers) of Akeel, 36, and wife Hannaa Vorajee, 31, when they received a call early Wednesday morning that the body of their daughter Sara, who had died with them in the Boeing Dreamliner crash, had been identified. The relatives rushed to Ahmedabad to claim the four-year-old's remains so that she could be buried beside her parents. Nearly a week after the Ahmedabad-London AI-171 flight crashed, the search for Sara reflects the difficulty in identifying minors among the badly charred remains. Till Wednesday, 159 bodies had been handed over to relatives after DNA matching and identification. Apart from Sara, only one other minor was among those bodies — Fatima Shethwala, who was 18 months old. AI-171 had 13 children under the age of 12, as per the airline manifest, including three who had not yet turned 2. Several others were between the ages of 11 and 18. Explaining the difficulty in using DNA technology to identify minor victims in such a disaster, Dr Jayasankar Pillai, a forensic odontologist with Government Dental College, Gujarat, said: 'In children, the body mass is less and so the tissue damage and the exposure of long bones to heat is more. Teeth, though, can withstand heat as they are more robust.' In the case of minors, however, this too is complicated. 'DNA can be extracted from any tooth in children, but the front teeth cannot be used as heat degrades them in case of fire accidents. So we take DNA from molars. In children aged less than six years, we can't get a permanent molar… They mostly have milk teeth, and sometimes even those are destroyed as the arch is very small. So we make an incision in the jaw and try to get the permanent molar developing inside,' said Pillai, whose department was approached by the Forensic Medicine Department to help extract dental DNA and compile dental charting of victims. A forensic official said the fire that broke out after the crash would have reached temperatures of over 1600 degrees F in a very short period. 'So, only partial DNA profiles are available for some, whom we suspect are minors,' the official said, adding that matching these to that of relatives with 'undoubted accuracy' is difficult. The Nanabawa family received the bodies of Akeel and Hannaa — who were British nationals based in Gloucester — a day before Sara's remains were identified. Akeel's father Abdulla recalled that the three had arrived on June 6, a day before Eid al-Adha, on a surprise visit. 'It was a short trip… We did know this would be their last,' sobbed Abdulla, who had gone to Ahmedabad to drop the family for the flight. In Vadodara, Asif Shethwala mourned his granddaughter Fatima, the toddler whose remains were identified Wednesday, while her mother Sadiqa's body is yet to be found. Asif said Fatima was his London-based son's only child. 'Sadiqa and Fatima were visiting for my younger son's wedding. They were here for about 20 days and their return tickets were booked well in advance.' With his son in Ahmedabad to collect Fatima's body, Asif hoped they would find Sadiqa's too. 'They will try to bring home both together. If not, they will return tonight and we will lay Fatima to rest.' Apart from yielding DNA, dental remains also help determine the approximate age of a person, providing essential clues to identification. This has been vital in the Ahmedabad crash as, even for adults, the explosion and fire meant much of the DNA recovered was degraded. Dr Pillai said the Forensic Odontology Department had extracted dental DNA or done dental charting for at least some victims between one and three years of age. This was then compared with the flight manifest for passengers in that age group. 'That helped narrow down the search. Their DNA samples could then be matched with those of their relatives.' Among those waiting for news is the Vahora family in Vadodara. They lost three members in the crash. While Yasmin's body was handed over on Monday, the remains of Pervez and his daughter Zuveriya, 4, are yet to be found. A close friend said: 'The family needs closure to come to terms with the loss.' A former IPS officer and forensic expert, Dr Keshav Kumar, said the families should not lose hope. 'The air crash was almost like a bomb blast, with 54,000 litres of aviation fuel burning for over an hour. The amount of heat generated is damaging for the body… We would be lucky to get good samples… But if even a tooth has been found, there are chances of getting DNA… Forensics is like finding a needle in a haystack. But as an investigator, I can say that the chances of getting a match are 100%… DNA can survive thousands of years and the wreckage site will hold more traces of DNA if needed.' A senior Gujarat Police officer said they ensured collection of multiple samples from the crash site. 'Since so many agencies are involved in the investigations, the recovery of components of the aircraft was done on priority after retrieving as many bodies as possible. The forensic teams collected as many exhibits as possible for DNA sampling. Teams of the Gujarat Police, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and disaster rescue forces continue to check for any human remains or important leads that could help identify passengers.' —With inputs by Kamal Saiyed in Surat
Indian Express
18-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
‘He always stayed connected with his roots': Hundreds gather in Surat for funeral of British citizen, wife
It was 1.30 am; the streets of Surat were quiet and bare. But in the Haripura area of the city, outside Hasanji Kabristan, people had gathered in large numbers. They had come to bid final farewell to Akeel Nanabawa and his wife Hannaa Vorajee, who were among the 241 passengers killed in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. Their daughter, 4-year-old Sara, was also killed in the tragedy. Even though he was a British citizen, the connection of Akeel's family with Surat goes back several generations. Members of the Bohra community, which owns several properties across Surat, the Nanabawas are much renowned and respected in the city. Akeel's father Abdulla is yet to come to terms with the loss. 'There are no words to express my feelings about my son and his family. Only a few days back, we all had enjoyed Bakrid. I dropped him off at Ahmedabad for his return flight to London…' he tells The Indian Express. It was a surprise 6-day trip for Eid that had brought Akeel, Hannaa and Sara to Surat. 'His trip was short, but his company was memorable to me and will remain so forever,' says Abdulla. Outside the graveyard, as the crowds swelled for 'Namaz-e-Janaza' (funeral prayers), the mourners – including clerics, social workers, relatives, friends and members of the community — talked about how Akeel, despite not being born and raised in Surat, was always warm towards his neighbours. 'They were always warm, gentle, and friendly. Despite staying abroad, he had remained connected with his roots,' says Rashid, a family friend. The Nanabawas had been based in the UK for decades. Around 15 years ago, Abdullah had returned to Surat while his four sons and their mother stayed in Gloucester. The four brothers – all British citizens – would often come down to Surat to meet their father, says a neighbour. Akeel's younger brother Hamza and their mother Sajeda, who had flown down from London, were also present for the last rites. Akeel and Hanna were buried around 2am, next to each other. 'We could not follow the ritual of gusal (an Islamic ritual involving washing the body) before the burial. We were not allowed. It felt like something was incomplete,' says Rashid. While the funeral was underway, Abdulla received a call from Ahmedabad – Sara's remains had been identified. Later in the day, the four-year-old's funeral prayers were performed and she was laid to rest in the evening, close to her parents' graves.
Indian Express
18-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Air India plane crash: Surat grandfather buries son, daughter-in-law; heads back to Ahmedabad to collect 4-year-old granddaughter's body
It was an unusual early morning for the people of Haripura in the walled city area of Surat on Wednesday when a large number of Muslims gathered to offer 'Namaz-e-Janaza' prayers for British citizens Akeel Nanabawa and his wife Hannaa Vorajee, who were among the 241 killed in the Air India flight crash on June 12. The Gloucester couple was buried around 2 am Wednesday, after which their relatives returned to Ahmedabad to collect the remains of Sara, their four-year-old daughter. Akeel (36), his wife Hannaa (31), and daughter Sara had flown from London to Ahmedabad and reached Surat on June 6, a day before Bakri Eid, to surprise Akeel's father Abdulla Nanabawa, a resident of the Haripura area. A huge crowd of mourners — clerics, social workers, relatives, friends and members of the Bohra community — from different parts of Surat city assembled at Haripura on Wednesday early morning to pay their last respects. Akeel's younger brother, Hamza, and their mother, Sajeda, also flew to Surat from London to participate in the final rites. Abdulla (62) had been in Ahmedabad since June 12 to receive the bodies of his son Akeel and his family. On June 16, the DNA test results for Akeel and Hanna were confirmed, while Sara's DNA test report arrived early on Wednesday morning. Abdulla was inconsolable as his friend Rashid Shaikh, a social worker, and a few others tried to speak to him. Talking to The Indian Express, Abdulla Nanabawa said, 'There are no words to express my feelings about my son and his family. We all enjoyed the Bakri Eid festival fully. We celebrated it with all the rituals. I dropped him at Ahmedabad on June 12 for his return flight back to London. His trip was short, but his company was memorable to me and will remain so forever.' On the early morning of June 12, Abdulla Nanabawa booked a car from Surat to Ahmedabad, carrying Akeel, Hannaa, and Sara. After dropping them at the Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport (SVPIA), Abdulla headed to Surat, where he learnt of the plane crash. When Akeel and Hannaa were being laid to rest, Abdulla received a call from Ahmedabad Civil Hospital informing him that Sara's DNA had been matched. He and his friends left for Ahmedabad Civil Hospital at 7.00 am on Wednesday and received Sara's body; they are now on their way back to Surat.
Wales Online
18-06-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Family of Welsh businessman killed in Air India crash feels 'abandoned'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The brother of a highly-regarded Newport businessman, who died in the Air India plane crash with his wife and young daughter, said they feel "utterly abandoned". Akeel Nanabawa, 35, together with his wife Hanaa Vorajee and their four year old daughter Sara, met a tragic end when the aircraft they were aboard plunged into a residential district of Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff last Thursday. Hamzah Nanabawa, Akeel's sibling, remains uncertain about when his body will be returned to the family and is urgently seeking more support from the British government on site in India. A family representative told the BBC their plea for help: "We're not asking for miracles – we're asking for presence, for compassion, for action. Right now, we feel utterly abandoned." Despite providing DNA and a three-day wait, the family has yet to recover Akeel's body. The doomed flight, which crashed just moments post departure from Ahmedabad airport, was carrying 242 individuals including 53 Britons; astonishingly, there was one survivor, reports Wales Online. The Nanabawa family were travelling home to Gloucester on the flight. Mr Nanabawa told the BBC: "I need the UK government to come out by themselves, if they've given up all this big talk over in the UK, come out here and help." He said that there is no UK leadership in India and no crisis professionals stationed at the hospital. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said a dedicated helpline has been set up to support families of the victims and UK air accident investigators are in India to support the authorities. "No-one from UK has even reached out to me, my family, to my sister-in-law's family. Nobody has. So you're saying no-one from the foreign office in the UK or here reached out to us at all, nobody," Mr Nanabawa said. "They haven't done anything for us [or] what we wanted. You have to understand, this is the highest, highest incident in the UK's history of 53 lives, and we are now on day four." (Image: James Manning/PA) He added: "All I want is you guys to come and help and help my brother, my sister-in-law, my niece and all the other 53 people that were on that plane. "Come and help them, please. Because they are grieving. They are hurt. They haven't got anybody. They [haven't got any] structure, no structure at all." Akeel grew up grew up in Newport and went to Caerleon Comprehensive School before founding executive recruitment agency Rec2Go in Gloucester. Members of the Newport community told WalesOnline they were shocked at the news of the family's tragic death. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox PE teacher at Caerleon Comprehensive School James Savastano said: "It's with great sadness that we have lost Akeel in the tragic Air India plane crash. "As a member of my form group he was well-liked and had a wide circle of friends within the year. He was a great personality and, for most of the time, a model student. "He was a talented rugby player and cricketer representing the school with prowess in both sports. "He and his three brothers were all top lads during their time at Caerleon Comp and I'm sure Akeel will be sorely missed by all of the Nanabawa family. Rest in peace Akeel." A Foreign Office spokesperson told the BBC: "Our staff continue to work around the clock in the UK and India to support the families and loved ones of all those impacted by the crash. "We have set up a Reception Centre at the Ummed Hotel, near the Ahmedabad airport, and have a dedicated helpline to provide support and advice for the families and friends of British nationals." The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now - here's how to sign up
