Latest news with #VishwashkumarRamesh
India Gazette
3 hours ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Air India to provide Rs 25 lakh to victims' families, survivor in Ahmedabad plane crash
New Delhi [India], June 14 (ANI): Air India on Saturday announced that an interim financial assistance package of Rs 25 lakh (approximately GBP 21,000) will be provided to the 'families of the deceased and to the survivor' in the tragic crash of the London-bound Air India flight that rammed into a doctors' hostel in the Meghani Nagar area in Gujarat's Ahmedabad shortly after it took off from Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport on Thursday. In a post on X, the Tata-owned airline stated that the package was in addition to the Rs 1 crore support already announced by Tata Sons. The airline further expressed its solidarity with the families of the people who lost their lives. 'Air India stands in solidarity with the families of the passengers who tragically lost their lives in the recent accident. Our teams on the ground are doing everything possible to extend care and support during this incredibly difficult time. As part of our continued efforts, Air India will be providing an interim payment of 25 lakh or approximately 21,000 GBP each to the families of the deceased and to the survivor to help address immediate financial needs. This is in addition to the 1 crore or approximately 85,000 GBP support already announced by Tata Sons. All of us at Air India are deeply saddened by this loss. We mourn with the families, loved ones, and everyone affected,' the airline stated on X. Earlier on Thursday, the Tata Group had announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore each for the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic crash. 'Tata Group will provide 1 crore to the families of each person who has lost their life in this tragedy. We will also cover the medical expenses of those injured and ensure that they receive all necessary care and support. Additionally, we will provide support in the building up of the B J Medical's hostel,' N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, said in a post on X. On Thursday, the Air India flight AI171 was en route to London from Ahmedabad when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport, ramming into a doctors' hostel of BJ Medical College in Gujarat's Ahmedabad. There were 242 people on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Of the passengers, 241 died in the crash. The lone survivor, identified as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment. (ANI)
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
DNA of 11 plane crash victims matched with family members so far: official
The DNA of 11 victims of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad has been matched with their family members so far, a senior government doctor at the B J Medical College here said on Saturday. As many of the bodies are burnt beyond recognition or damaged otherwise, authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of the victims of Thursday's horrific tragedy. Dr Rajnish Patel, professor of surgery at the B J Medical College, told media persons that the process of matching DNA has to be done meticulously. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. It has legal and medical implications, so one can not rush through it, he said. Vishwashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor among the 242 passengers and crew who were on board the London-bound Air India flight, was stable and out of danger, Dr Patel added. Live Events Alok Pandey, Gujarat Revenue Secretary, said at the press conference that the victims hailed from 18 out of 33 districts of Gujarat, besides other states of the country. The families of 11 foreign nationals who died in the crash have been contacted, he said. 'Grief counsellors' will be provided to the families of the victims to help them deal with the mental trauma, Pandey said. The bodies of eight victims, who were identified by their relatives and did not need DNA profiling, have already been handed over to their families by the hospital, officials said earlier. The death toll in the plane crash rose to 270 on Saturday. The Centre set up a high-level multi-disciplinary panel headed by the Union home secretary to examine the causes that led to the disaster. All but one of the 242 passengers and crew on board AI171 and another 29 persons including five MBBS students on the ground were killed when the aircraft came down moments after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport before falling inside the nearby campus of the state-run BJ Medical College in Meghaninagar area and going up in flames.
The Print
6 hours ago
- Health
- The Print
DNA of 11 plane crash victims matched with family members so far: official
Dr Rajnish Patel, professor of surgery at the B J Medical College, told media persons that the process of matching DNA has to be done meticulously. As many of the bodies are burnt beyond recognition or damaged otherwise, authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of the victims of Thursday's horrific tragedy. Ahmedabad, Jun 14 (PTI) The DNA of 11 victims of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad has been matched with their family members so far, a senior government doctor at the B J Medical College here said on Saturday. It has legal and medical implications, so one can not rush through it, he said. Vishwashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor among the 242 passengers and crew who were on board the London-bound Air India flight, was stable and out of danger, Dr Patel added. Alok Pandey, Gujarat Revenue Secretary, said at the press conference that the victims hailed from 18 out of 33 districts of Gujarat, besides other states of the country. The families of 11 foreign nationals who died in the crash have been contacted, he said. `Grief counsellors' will be provided to the families of the victims to help them deal with the mental trauma, Pandey said. The bodies of eight victims, who were identified by their relatives and did not need DNA profiling, have already been handed over to their families by the hospital, officials said earlier. The death toll in the plane crash rose to 270 on Saturday. The Centre set up a high-level multi-disciplinary panel headed by the Union home secretary to examine the causes that led to the disaster. All but one of the 242 passengers and crew on board AI171 and another 29 persons including five MBBS students on the ground were killed when the aircraft came down moments after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport before falling inside the nearby campus of the state-run BJ Medical College in Meghaninagar area and going up in flames. PTI PR KRK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
RNZ News
9 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
Just one man survived the Air India crash. What's it like to survive a mass disaster?
By By Erin Smith of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was the sole survivor of the Air India flight 171 crash. Photo: Narendra Modi / YouTube / AFP Viswashkumar Ramesh, a British citizen returning from a trip to India, has been confirmed as the only survivor of Thursday's deadly Air India crash. "I don't know how I am alive," Ramesh told family, according to brother Nayan, in a video call moments after emerging from the wreckage. Another brother, Ajay, seated elsewhere on the plane, was killed. Given the horror of the Air India plane crash, the story of British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh from Leicester, sitting in seat 11a, being sole survivor & walking away with just a few scratches, is truly astonishing. Truly a miracle. #planecrash #PlaneCrashIndia The Boeing 787-7 Dreamliner crashed into a medical college less than a minute after taking off in the city of Ahmedabad, killing the other 229 passengers and 12 crew. At least five people were killed on the ground. Surviving a mass disaster of this kind may be hailed as a kind of "miracle",but what is it like to survive, especially as the only one? Air India flight 171 crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad. Photo: AFP / Diptendu Dutta Past research has shown that disaster survivors may experience an intense range of emotions, from grief and anxiety to feelings of loss and uncertainty. These are common reactions to an extraordinary situation. People light candles as they take part in a Siliguri prayer ceremony for the airplane crash victims. Photo: Handout / CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY FORCE (CISF) / AFP Some people may develop post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) and have difficulty adjusting to a new reality, after bearing witness to immense loss. They may also be dealing with physical recovery from injuries sustained in the disaster. Most people recover after disasters by drawing on their own strengths and the support of others. Recovery rates are high: Generally, less than one in 10 of those affected by disasters develop chronic, long-term problems, but being a sole survivor of a mass casualty event may have its own complex psychological challenges. Survivors can experience guilt they lived, when others died. My friend, Gill Hicks, spoke to me for this article about the ongoing guilt she still feels, years after surviving the 2005 bombings of the London Underground. Lying trapped in a smoke-filled train carriage, she was the last living person to be rescued after the attack. Gill lost both her legs, yet she still wonders, "Why me? Why did I get to go home when so many others didn't?". Dr Gill Hicks lost both legs in the 2005 London Underground bombings. Photo: supplied In the case of a sole survivor, this guilt may be particularly acute, but research addressing the impact of sole survivorship is limited. Most research that looks at the psychological impact of disasters focuses on the impact of disasters more broadly. Those interviewed for a 2013 documentary about surviving large plane crashes, Sole Survivor , express complex feelings - wanting to share their stories, but fearing being judged by others. Being the lone survivor can be a heavy burden. "I didn't think I was worthy of the gift of being alive," George Lamson Jr told the documentary , after surviving a 1985 plane crash in Nevada that killed all others on board. People who survive a disaster may also be under pressure to explain what happened and relive the trauma for the benefit of others. Vishwashkumar Ramesh was filmed and interviewed by the media in the minutes and hours following the Air India crash, but as he told his brother, "I have no idea how I exited the plane". India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. Photo: Narendra Modi / YouTube / AFP It can be common for survivors themselves to be plagued by unanswerable questions. Did they live for a reason? Why did they live when so many others died? These kinds of unaswerable questions reflect our natural inclination to look for meaning in experiences, and to have our life stories make sense. For some people, sharing a traumatic experience with others who've been through it or something similar can be a beneficial part of the recovery process, helping to process emotions and regain some agency and control. However, this may not always be possible for sole survivors, potentially compounding feelings of guilt and isolation. Survivor's guilt can be an expression of grief and loss. Studies indicate guilt is notably widespread among individuals who have experienced traumatic events, and it is associated with heightened psychopathological symptoms (such as severe anxiety, insomnia or flashbacks) and thoughts of suicide. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. Photo: @ASHLOVETEA via AFP Taking time to process the traumatic event can help survivors cope, and seeking support from friends, family and community, or faith leaders can help an individual work through difficult feelings. My friend Gill said the anxiety rises, as the anniversary of the disaster approaches each year. Trauma reminders, such as anniversaries, are different to unexpected trauma triggers, but can still cause distress. Media attention around collectively experienced dates can also amplify trauma-related distress, contributing to a cycle of media consumption and increased worry about future events. On 7 July each year, Gill holds a private remembrance ritual. This allows her to express her grief and sense of loss, and to honour those who did not survive. These types of can be a valuable tool in processing feelings of grief and guilt, offering a sense of control and meaning, and facilitating the expression and acceptance of loss. Lingering guilt and anxiety - especially when it interferes with day-to-day life - should not be ignored. Ongoing survivor's guilt is associated with significantly higher levels of post-traumatic symptoms . Survivors may need support from psychologists or mental health professionals in the short and long term. - Erin Smith is associate professor and discipline lead (paramedicine) at La Trobe University This story originally appeared on The Conversation.
The National
12 hours ago
- Health
- The National
Doctor treating Air India crash survivor tells of patient's miracle escape
A doctor treating the sole survivor of Thursday's Air India plane crash said he is recovering well after walking away from the deadly disaster with only bruises and burns. British citizen Vishwashkumar Ramesh is believed to have been thrown clear of the aircraft before it was engulfed in flames in Ahmedabad, western India. But he has told doctors he still cannot understand how he emerged from the scene of devastation. He was the only one of 242 passengers – which included his older brother Ajay – to survive when the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off. Dr Rajnish Patel, head of surgery at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, told The National that Mr Ramesh is in a stable condition and will be kept under observation for a few days. He spoke of the mental trauma facing the patient, as he grapples with the loss of his brother and the enormity of the ordeal he came through. 'He is recovering well. He has some bruises on the left side of his face and burns on the left shoulder but otherwise he is stable,' said Dr Patel. 'He was limping but he has no bone injuries.' Mr Ramesh, from Leicester, central England, was seated in 11A near the emergency exit of the aircraft, according to information pieced together by medics, police and volunteers who helped get him to safety. Post-traumatic amnesia He told doctors he still had his seat belt on and appears to have been thrown out of the Air India plane bound for London's Gatwick Airport. 'He said at one point he was in his seat, the second moment the plane fell, then he was unconscious and when he recovered he was outside,' Dr Patel said. 'He does not have a clear idea of how he got out. But he does remember he was still in his seat and that when the plane crashed he was outside the plane in his seat with the seat belt still on. 'He said he took out the seat belt and walked away. He walked a very short distance and then there was a blast.' The doctor said it was natural for patients battling trauma to blank terrifying memories. 'He said he was surrounded by dead bodies,' Dr Patel said. 'It's a case of severe post-traumatic amnesia so his story may change. This is common for people who have suffered such a massive trauma. After some time he may recollect everything.' Mr Ramesh and his brother Ajay were travelling home to their family in Leicester. 'He does know that his brother who was seated behind did not survive, he knows he is the only survivor,' Dr Patel said. 'We tell him, 'you are stable, it's a miracle, you are lucky' and he accepts this. But yes, this will leave a deep impact.' Mr Ramesh will be discharged in a few days, after he is cleared by doctors and legal formalities are completed. His family in Gujarat arrived at the hospital soon after the news broke. Investigation begins Mobile phone footage taken by witnesses at the accident site shows Mr Ramesh walking unsteadily as people ask him about other passengers. He replies in Hindi: 'They are all inside.' Mr Ramesh has described the devastating scene to Indian media. 'When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital,' he told The Hindustan Times newspaper. Doctors at the hospital also treated medical students from the state-run BJ Medical College hostel that the plane crashed into. Video footage showed the plane taxiing off the runway, gaining height before quickly dropping, flying low and then hitting the ground in a residential neighbourhood before bursting into flames. Air India said of the 242 people on board Flight 171, including two pilots and 10 cabin crew, there were 169 passengers from India, 53 from Britain, seven from Portugal and one from Canada. Air India owner Tata Sons said 'no words can adequately express the grief'. It has pledged to pay one crore rupees ($133,600) to the family of each person who died. Boeing has said it is ready to support the investigation led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. India's Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the probe would be in line with international protocols set up by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
