Latest news with #Bhana
1News
3 days ago
- Politics
- 1News
NZ's Indian community devastated after Ahmedabad plane crash
New Zealand's Indian community is gathering at Auckland's Mahatma Gandhi Centre tonight to pay respects to victims of the Ahmedabad airplane crash yesterday. So far, there is only one reported survivor among the 242 people who were on board the London-bound Air India flight that crashed in a residential neighbourhood within a minute of taking off from Ahmedabad's international airport, according to media reports. At least 290 people were killed once dozens of victims on the ground were included in the death toll, CNN reported. Rescuers work at the site of an airplane that crashed in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state. (Source: Associated Press) Victims of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Gujarat state included minors, local residents, and people who were inside a medical college hostel when the plane struck it, according to media reports. ADVERTISEMENT Air India said the dead included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. Rescuers work at the site of an airplane that crashed in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state. (Source: Associated Press) Narendra Bhana, former president of the New Zealand Indian Central Association, said the Indian community was devastated by the news. "The Indian diaspora collectively mourns the loss of lives in Ahmedabad," Bhana said. "Gujaratis – including me – form a large part of the Indian diaspora here in New Zealand and we all have strong family connections to the region. ... The impact is huge. "We stand in solidarity with the people of Gujarat and all of India during this time of mourning. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured, the rescue teams and everyone working tirelessly to provide support on the ground." Narendra Bhana, former president of the New Zealand Indian Central Association. (Source: RNZ / Blessen Tom) ADVERTISEMENT Working with the Indian Diaspora Group, Bhana has organised the candlelight vigil in Auckland and is expected a large gathering. "We invite people from all sections of society to join us in lighting a candle in tonight's solemn gathering," he said. "It is a time to come together in prayers, reflection and solidarity with the victims." New Zealand's Indian community gathers at Auckland's Mahatma Gandhi Centre to pay respects to victims. (Source: 1News) Hitesh Dobariya, who lost a distant relative in the crash, said he had been in touch with his family in Ahmedabad since last night. They were still in a state of shock, he said. "Authorities have taken DNA samples yesterday to ascertain the identity of those killed. "While we know all but one person on board has survived the crash, we still need the official confirmation. ADVERTISEMENT "Now we wait for the official investigation to conclude and tell us what really happened." The BBC's Yogita Limaye reports from the scene of the Air India tragedy in Ahmedabad. (Source: Breakfast) Among the dead is former Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani, who ruled the state between 2016 and 2021. Ketan Joshi, a local journalist who runs the runs Gujarati news portal Apun Gujarat in Auckland, shared his experience working with Rupani. "I got to know Vijay ... while covering the Covid era," Joshi said. "He was always known as the common man's chief minister. How well he managed one of India's most prosperous states during those challenging times will always be his legacy." People stand around debris at the site of an airplane that crashed in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, Thursday, June12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) (Source: Associated Press) ADVERTISEMENT After providing support to victims' families and confirming casualties, attention would likely shift to the cause of the crash. Shares in Boeing fell by more than 7% in pre-market trade today. For recently privatised Air India – the Tata Group bought the airline from the Indian government in 2021 – the crash comes as a huge blow as it embarks on shedding its decade-long image of a debt-ridden player in India's growing aviation sector. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident "heartbreaking beyond words", adding that he was working with authorities involved in the disaster. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the scenes were "devastating". The United Kingdom had activated a crisis team in New Delhi and London, British foreign minister David Lammy said.
RNZ News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
South Asian communities fear for relatives caught up in Kashmir conflict
Residents evacuate their homes near the site of a missile strike in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, on Wednesday. Photo: AFP/SAJJAD QAYYUM New Zealand's South Asian communities have expressed concern for the safety of relatives caught up in rapidly rising hostilities between the two neighbouring nuclear powers in the wake of an Indian offensive on Wednesday. Residents of Indian and Pakistani descent called on India and Pakistan to halt the worst fighting in more than two decades between the two nations. India launched missile strikes on nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir early Wednesday morning in a campaign titled "Operation Sindoor". Pakistan says at least 26 civilians have been killed and 46 wounded in the sites that were attacked, while India says at least seven have been killed and 48 injured in shelling on its side of the border, according to the BBC. India's offensive followed an attack by Islamist assailants that killed 26 Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month. India said Pakistan-based militants were responsible, but Pakistan has denied involvement. Narendra Bhana, former president of the New Zealand Indian Central Association, called upon all communities within New Zealand - regardless of their origin - to remain united, respectful and empathetic. "Let us be guided not by division, but by our shared humanity and our common aspiration for a more just and peaceful world," Bhana said. "While we acknowledge the complex historical and geopolitical factors surrounding South Asia, we believe that violence cannot be the path forward," he said. "We urge all parties involved to pursue diplomatic solutions, engage in constructive dialogue and prioritize the long-term well-being of all citizens in the region." Veer Khar, Bhana's successor and current president of the association, hoped the conflict would not lead to any tensions between New Zealand's Indian and Pakistani communities. "If some tensions emerge, we will ensure to diffuse it by having good interactions between the two communities," Khar said. Naveed Hamid, former president of the Pakistan Association of New Zealand, echoed similar sentiments. "The Pakistani community here is very concerned for their families back home," Hamid said. "We are praying both countries de-escalate the current situation," he said. "[Given] both are nuclear weapon states, the international community should also step in and prevent the conflict from escalating." Ishtaq Ahmed, who moved to New Zealand from Pakistan 20 years ago and is president of Pakistan Association of Canterbury, expressed shock at Wednesday's developments. "This doesn't look good for the region, and I don't see any benefit coming out of this," Ahmed said. "I believe both countries should sort their issues on a table rather than like this." Jaspreet Kandhari, who comes from the Indian state of Punjab and is general secretary of the New Zealand Indian Business Association, said the Indian community in New Zealand was expecting some military action by the Indian armed forces after last month's attack in India-administered Kashmir. "[But] we are hoping the conflict doesn't turn into a full-fledged war, as all our relatives live in the border areas," Kandhari said. "We are obviously very worried about their safety." Tayyaba Khan, whose family moved from Pakistan to New Zealand when she was an infant, said Wednesday's developments were "devastating". "We have got two countries who have a very shared history of colonialism, and yet they continue to be at war with each other," she said. "Times like these require good leadership. It requires leaders who think about people," she said. "Unfortunately, in situations like this, it's always the innocent civilians who get caught up in the warfare of people with power."
