Latest news with #NeerajLavania
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 .
Hans India
a day ago
- General
- Hans India
Agra couple among victims of AI-171 crash; grief grips native village
Agra: Agra residents Neeraj Lavania and his wife Aparna Lavania were among the victims of the tragic Air India Flight AI-171 crash, which claimed 241 lives. The devastating news has plunged their native village, Akola in Agra district, into deep mourning. Relatives and villagers have been gathering at the Lavania family home to offer condolences. The grief-stricken atmosphere reflects the profound sense of loss experienced by the entire community. Speaking to IANS, Pramod Kumar Sharma, a relative, said, 'He was my uncle's son. His behaviour was always kind and respectful. The whole village is in shock. No one could have imagined such a tragedy. People are coming from nearby areas to console us. The women in the family are inconsolable.' Neeraj's nephew, Shubham Lavania, added, 'We are getting all our information from the news. Only one person survived the crash. The entire family is heartbroken.' The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London-Gatwick, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport around 1:30 p.m. on June 12. The aircraft slammed into the residential building and mess of BJ Medical College in the densely populated Meghani Nagar area, just 3 kms from the airport, bursting into flames. At the time, medical students were gathered in their hostel's dining hall, many of whom are also feared dead. Of the 242 people on board, only one passenger — Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin — survived. He is currently receiving treatment in an Ahmedabad hospital. Rescue and identification operations are ongoing at BJ Medical College, where authorities are using DNA sampling to identify charred remains. The process of handing over bodies to bereaved families has begun. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and met with survivors and injured victims at the hospital. Expressing his condolences, he stated, 'The loss of so many lives in such a heartbreaking manner is beyond words.' The cause of the crash remains under investigation as authorities continue to sift through the wreckage in what has become one of India's deadliest aviation disasters in recent history.
IOL News
2 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Air India plane crash: boy, 14, among victims as fire engulfed tea stall near crash site
NEW DELHI: The tragedy of the Air India Flight AI-171 crash continues to unfold in sorrowful stories emerging from across India. Apart from the 241 people aboard the ill-fated aircraft who perished in the crash, many innocent people on the ground were feared killed as the Boeing plane crashed into a residential building and burst into a ball of flames. Among those killed on the ground was 14-year-old Akash, who became a victim of the crash's fiery aftermath. Akash was sitting near a tea stall next to the BJ Medical College, close to the crash site, when part of the aircraft struck the area. His mother, who ran a shop below the hospital, witnessed the horrific scene. 'He was sitting there near the shop when a part of the plane landed, hitting his head, and then fire engulfed him,' said his aunt. 'His mother tried to save him, but the flames spread so quickly. She was almost caught in the fire herself.' Locals say the crash site turned into a scene of chaos and terror as debris and fire scattered through the area, killing not only those on board but also innocent people on the ground like Akash. Another family devastated by the tragedy is that of Neeraj Lavania and Aparna Lavania, a couple from Akola village near Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Both were on board Flight AI-171 and lost their lives. The Lavania family's ancestral home in Akola is now engulfed in mourning. Mahendra Kumar Sharma, a cousin, said: 'They were the sons of my uncle. The entire area is in deep shock. Everyone is devastated.' Their nephew, Shubham Lavania, shared the emotional toll the news has taken: 'We learnt about the crash through the news. There's nothing but grief in the family. We're still hoping somehow it's not true, that maybe they're injured and getting treatment. We got the news as soon as the flight crashed.' The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London-Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on June 12, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. One passenger survived. Rescue and identification operations are still underway at BJ Medical College, where DNA sampling continues to help identify charred remains. - IANS THE POST
