Latest news with #SardarVallabhbhaiInternationalAirport
Time of India
5 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Air India plane crash: New video surfaces of lone survivor Viswash Kumar Ramesh emerging from burning wreckage; watch
New video of Ahmedabad crash survivor NEW DELHI: A new video of last week's deadly Air India crash shows Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor, walking away from the crash site. In the video, some bystanders are seen shouting, as smoke billows in the background. Suddenly, Ramesh walks out, and is spotted by one of the bystanders. The person then walks towards Ramesh, holds his hand, and takes him away from the spot. The British national of Indian-origin was the sole survivor of the ill-fated AI 171 flight, on which he was the occupant of seat 11A. On June 12, the flight departed Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport shortly after 1:30 pm, and was bound for Gatwick, the second-busiest international airport in London. However, within minutes of take-off, it crashed into the hostel mess of the nearby BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital. Out of 242 people on board, 241 were killed. The toll later rose to 274, by including people who were not on the plane.
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Air India flight crash: Counsellors provide support to grieving families
When the London Gatwick-bound Air India flight 171 crashed into the hostel buildings of Ahmedabad's BJ Medical College in the afternoon of June 12, Dr Urveki Parekh was at her house in the nearby residential quarters that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner narrowly missed. Also Read: Air India crash probe panel set to meet today The Gujarat government, on Saturday, announced that grief counsellors have been assigned to families to help them deal with the mental trauma. The move comes two days after AI-171 crashed seconds after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 241 out of 242 people on board, marking India's worst single-aircraft tragedy. More than 72 hours after the crash, even as officials of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are conducting a probe into the crash; forensic expert are working to match over 200 DNA samples from the bodies of the deceased; and crematoriums are being readied for mass funeral, the grief counsellors are at work in different locations within the BJ Medical College complex. Also Read: Air India flight's 2nd black box recovered; cockpit voice recorder to aid probe Parekh spoke to HT about the counselling sessions that more than 1,000 relatives affected by the tragedy are taking while they wait for the authorities to identify the charred bodies, allowing them to conduct the final rites. Until Sunday evening, authorities had successfully identified 86 bodies through DNA matching. 'There are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargain, depression and acceptance. The accident has roiled the lives of so many people. In this case, there are videos circulated everywhere. This makes it even more difficult for the families,' Parekh said, who was among the first responders at the crash site on the day of the tragedy. Also Read: Eyewitness on ground recalls Air India plane crash horror: 'Dead bodies and debris all over' In the aftermath of the crash, relatives of the deceased were unable to accept what had happened for the first two days, Parekh shared. 'They wanted to see the bodies for themselves. They had hope that their relatives might have survived. That hope and anger must be managed professionally,' she said, adding that over a dozen psychiatrists have been roped in for counselling. Parekh said that grief counsellors like her are stationed at three locations: The first is where relatives provide blood samples for DNA matching with the remains found from the crash site; the second is the hospital superintendent's office where relatives are informed after a DNA match is confirmed; and the third is the mortuary, where authorities hand over the body over to their kin. The doctor underscored the need for counselling during the various stages of recovering the victims' bodies. 'We have seen that the families are tired and want the bodies at the earliest. Professional counselling is needed when families are told that the DNA samples matched and they have to come and receive the confirmation papers. It is also needed before the body is finally handed to them. During the time when authorities are preparing the body for handing it over, the grief counsellors are counselling the families,' she added. While recounting her experiences, Parekh said she faced her most challenging counselling session on Sunday morning. 'How do you break the news to a 7-year-old that his DNA has matched with his father and that his father is no more?' she said. 'I am also worried about those who have now developed a fear of flying because of what they have seen.'
Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
She rescheduled her flight to surprise husband on his birthday, found herself on ill-fated Air India plane
The WhatsApp message was simple, but filled with warmth only family can convey: 'Happy journey Harpreet beta.' Those words, sent on a family WhatsApp group on Thursday morning, would become the last blessing Harpreet Kaur Hora (30) would receive before she stepped on the ill-fated Air India flight. But this wasn't always the plan. Harpreet originally booked her ticket for June 19, a routine visit to see Robbie, her husband of four years who works in London as a software engineer. But since his birthday fell on June 16, she couldn't bear the thought of missing it. And so, she decided to reschedule her flight for June 12, so she could be there for his special day. When the Boeing 787 Dreamliner lifted off from Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport on Thursday afternoon, Harpreet was seated in 22E. Minutes later, the aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar area. In another cruel twist of fate, Harpreet had travelled from her IT job in Bangalore to her maternal home in Ahmedabad, where her father was recovering from heart surgery. She chose to fly from Ahmedabad rather than from Bangalore since she wanted to spend time with him, her family said. Her father-in-law, Harjeet Singh Hora, told The Indian Express, 'She planned to celebrate my son's birthday on June 16. She often visited him, but this time, this unfortunate incident occurred, and she is gone forever.' The family WhatsApp group that had been buzzing with good wishes fell silent, except for the devastating news. Rajendra Singh Hora, her uncle, said, 'The whole family is shattered. This accident has shaken all of us.' Despite living on different continents, the couple made it work with regular video calls, carefully planned visits, and the shared belief that their separation was temporary. They got married in 2020, their union blessed with hope but tested by the demands of careers that pulled them in different directions. Harpreet spent a year and three months with him in London before returning to India when her own career beckoned from Bangalore. 'She had been making plans to move to London permanently,' said Rajendra Singh Hora. 'The visits were becoming a bridge to a new life together. This trip was meant to be another building block in that future; they hoped this would be their last year of living apart.'
Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
‘Hum bas umeed lagaye baithe hai': Family awaits news on Agra couple after Air India crash
In the dusty bylanes of Akola, nestled on the outskirts of Agra, grief clings to the plastered walls and uneven cement floors of a small family home, where the Lavania family waits for news — any news — of Neeraj Lavania and his wife Aparna, who were aboard the Air India Flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London. On Thursday afternoon, the B787 Boeing Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed in the Meghaninagar area — minutes after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport. The flight had only one survivor. There has been no news of the Agra couple since. At the heart of the village, all eyes turn to one house — that of Neeraj's elder brother, Satish Lavania, a grocery store owner who continues to live in their parental home. Since the news broke, women and men from across the neighbourhood have been pouring in. In a cramped room, Arpita, Neeraj's sister-in-law, lies motionless on a bed. Her eyes are vacant, her lips sealed. Around her, her two young children, her sister, and niece sit close, trying to offer comfort without knowing how. The only sound is the persistent screech of a ceiling fan, occasionally interrupted by soft sobs. 'Woh issi ghar ke bete hai… Vadodara mein job karte the, manager the kisi badi company mein. Hum bas umeed lagaye baithe hai ki kuch acchi khabar milegi (He is the son of this family… he used to work in Vadodara, he was a manager in a big company. We are just hoping for some good news),' says Deeksha, Arpita's niece. The house is crowded with women — some crouched on the floor, others clutching each other for strength. They murmur prayers, offer water, whisper reassurances that even they don't fully believe. 'Himmat se kaam lo… accha hi hoga, sab log accha sochoge toh accha hi hoga (Be brave… only good will happen, if you think positively, then good things will happen),' says a neighbour as she wipes Arpita's tears. Another woman tries to smile, 'Abhi toh woh (Satish) raste mein hai… hospital pahuchke pata chalega. Sab accha hoga (Right now he (Satish) is on his way… we will know once he reaches the hospital. Everything will be fine).' Satish, a relative, along with a few male relatives, left for Ahmedabad early Friday morning to identify the couple. He had spoken to Neeraj just before the couple boarded the flight. Their 18-year-old daughter, who just began her first year of college, is under the care of her maternal grandmother in Vadodara. In the verandah, where the men sit quietly, visitors include the local MLA, pradhan, and neighbours — some offering condolences, others simply sitting in solidarity. 'There was a woman who missed the flight because she got stuck in traffic. She was saved,' says Gambhir Singh Chahal, the village pradhan. 'Par jab jiska samay aa jaaye… usse jaana hi padta hai… ('But when someone's time comes… he has to go…)' Harswaroop, Neeraj's cousin, speaks in a hushed tone, 'My son has gone with Satish. We haven't told the women yet… not fully. They'll faint if we do. The men are trying to manage the grief — we're still waiting for the right moment to tell the women.' As stories from Neeraj's past resurface, his uncle Veer Prakash Lavania sits near the doorway and recounts his life. 'He was a lovely boy… always smiling, always joking,' he says, 'He left Akola 20 years ago. He first worked in the Netherlands for two years, then settled in Vadodara. But he always came back — on Holi, Diwali, family functions and weddings — without fail. He would meet his old friends, some who now teach in schools here, others who farm. He had gone far ahead in life, but never left his roots.' The last time he visited, he hugged old classmates, laughed with neighbours, and walked these very lanes. None of them thought it would be the last time, he added.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Newly-wed groom, would-be parents among plane crash victims from Gujarat
Isha Maheshwari can't stop looking at her mehendi-darkened hands as she waits in a daze for news of her husband, Bhavik. It's only been two days since the couple married but even before it could fully sink it, Bhavik's life was tragically cut short by the Air India plane crash Thursday. Bhavik, 26, was a passenger on seat number 26F on the London-bound B787 Boeing Dreamliner Air India flight carrying 242 passengers and crew members that crashed in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar area near the city's airport Thursday afternoon, minutes after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport Ahmedabad. The flight had only one survivor — Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, a passenger on seat 11A. Bhavik, who lives in London, came back home to Vadodara 10 days ago for the wedding on June 10. As soon as she heard the news, Isha, 26, fainted, her family tells The Indian Express. 'Isha ki toh mehndi bhi nahi sukhi hai,' her aunt tells The Indian Express as the family waited in the basement of Institute of Kidney Disease and Research Centre (IKRDC) on the Civil hospital campus. Loud wails ring across the auditorium as tense families wait for news. The weeping and wailing stops only when the names of passengers are called out. Also waiting for news were Nautik Mate, 27, and his wife Shibhangi. Nautik's sister 27-year-old Pooja and 30-year-old brother-in-law Harshit were among the flight's passengers. The couple had been expecting a baby and were on their first visit back home after they moved to the United Kingdom a year ago. 'Pooja was on a study visa that got extended recently. Both met each at a job in Ahmedabad and got married around six years ago. Pooja was visiting for a medical checkup,' her friend Anand Sharma tells The Indian Express as he tries to console the family. In one corner, Trupti Soni waits for news of her brother Swapnil, 45, his wife Yoga, 44, and another sister-in-law, Alpa. The family was on its way to London to meet her brother and Alpa's husband Nishit, who had set off on a road trip from Ahmedabad to London three months ago and was to reach his destination Friday. The family was seated next to former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who also died in the crash. 'My brother and sisters-in-law had planned to reach London to receive Nishit. Look at God's will. Now Nishit had to cut his trip short to get here,' Trupti says. In the auditorium, Jignesh and Janki Patel are waiting for any news of their relatives, Kokilaben Patel, 65, and Shashikantbhai Patel, 70. The couple from Anand were on their way to London to meet their son, 'My cousin called from London and informed us that his parents were onboard this flight. We knew they were flying but were not sure about their dates and flight,' Janki says. Ranjanben Patel, 63, and Pravinbhai Patel, 64, from Kheda too were on their annual visit to London, where their son Mehul lives. 'They visit him every year but this is beyond our wildest imagination,' their relative Jigar Patel, 31, says.
