Ahmedabad, Gujarat – A devastating plane crash has claimed the lives of 242 people, including a doctor couple and their three children, aboard an Air India flight bound for London. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on Wednesday, leaving the nation in mourning.
Among the victims were Dr. Koni Vyas, a doctor from Banswara, Rajasthan, and her husband, Dr. Pradeep Joshi, along with their three children, Pradyut, Miraya, and Nakul. The family was en route to London, where Dr. Joshi worked, to begin a new chapter together. Also among the deceased were 11 other passengers from Rajasthan, including Khushboo Rajpurohit, a 20-year-old newlywed from Balotra district. She was travelling to meet her husband, Manfool Singh, a nurse in London, for the first time since their January wedding.
Other victims included Shubh Modi and his sister Shagun, children of a marble businessman from Udaipur, and Vardichand Menaria and Prakash Menaria, two cooks from Udaipur heading to London for temporary work. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that the aircraft issued a “MAYDAY” call before losing contact. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief, stating he is in close contact with ministers and authorities to coordinate response efforts. “The loss of lives in this tragic incident is heart-wrenching. My thoughts are with the families of the victims,” he said.
In a remarkable turn of events, one survivor, 40-year-old British-Indian national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was found alive amidst the wreckage. Ramesh, who was returning to the UK after visiting India, is now desperately searching for his brother, who was also on the flight.
Air India, under the Tata Group, has announced compensation of Rs 1 crore for each deceased passenger’s family, in addition to the mandatory 151,880 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), equivalent to approximately Rs 1.8 crore, as per international aviation regulations.
As investigations continue, the nation mourns the loss of lives in this catastrophic event, with families and communities grappling with the profound tragedy.
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