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'Whenever a plane passes above us ...': Ahmedabad residents near airport consider relocation; property value declines
An Air India flight crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12.
NEW DELHI: In Meghaninagar, near the Ahmedabad airport, residents experience intense fear whenever aircraft pass overhead.
The atmosphere changed dramatically on June 12 when an Air India flight to London plummeted and crashed into a medical hostel in Meghaninagar, erupting in flames.
The catastrophe claimed 270 lives, leaving residents with disturbing memories that will persist for years.
The communities surrounding Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport remain deeply affected. One week after the incident, residents struggle to maintain their daily routines whilst coping with the psychological impact of the tragedy.
Residents are considering relocation, whilst others worry about declining property values in areas beneath the flight path, such as Meghaninagar and Asarwa.
There are additional concerns about the difficulty of securing tenants for rental properties.
The working-class neighbourhoods of Laxminagar, Omkarnagar and Saraswatinagar, situated approximately one kilometre from the crash site, face compounded difficulties. These areas already suffer from inadequate infrastructure, including poor roads and insufficient sanitation.
"There are no proper roads here.
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Waterlogging and potholes make it difficult for us to walk (especially during rains). Now, this plane crash has added to our woes. Earlier, we had to walk only by looking down (to avoid potholes), now we have to look up also because whenever a plane passes above us, we fear it will crash on us," said Parmar, a resident of Meghaninagar, told PTI.
A local resident observed changes in aircraft patterns following the incident.
The crash involved Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers, which crashed shortly after takeoff. The disaster resulted in 271 fatalities, including 29 people on the ground, with only one survivor.
"As if the jarring sound of aircraft passing overhead was not enough, we now have to worry about planes falling on us. Every passing plane reminds us about that crash. Though one week has passed, we can't stop thinking about it.
The only respite is that planes have stopped flying too low after that crash," said Arun Kalal, a local resident.
Property owners express dual concerns about decreasing property values and potential difficulties in securing tenants, as people may avoid these areas.
"I have heard some tenants are mulling to move elsewhere after the crash. Despite the area being in bad shape, people chose to live here because of low rent.
But, after this incident, some may think of shifting. This could affect property prices as well as existing rent rates," said Gajendra, an auto-rickshaw driver.
Local women report that their relatives residing in other cities display greater anxiety about the situation than themselves.
"Fear still grips us whenever we hear the sound of an aircraft. Women are more scared because we stay at home all the time and see over 100 planes fly above us in a day. After that incident, our relatives keep calling us every other day and enquire about our well-being. They are more worried than us," said a woman.
