In just nine heartbreaking minutes, tragedy struck hundreds of families when an Air India Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed into a hostel shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad at 1:38 pm yesterday. Of the 242 people on board, only one survived. Families across India and abroad are now mourning unimaginable losses.
A Family’s Last Selfie
Dr. Koni Vyas, a pathologist from Banswara, Rajasthan, had resigned from her hospital job to start a new life in London with her husband, Dr. Pratik Joshi, and their three children — twin sons Pradyut and Nakul (5), and daughter Miraya (8). Just before takeoff, the family took a cheerful selfie. Minutes later, they were all gone. That final photo now painfully circulates on social media.
A Mother’s Final Journey
Rupal Ben Patel, a resident of London for the past 15 years, had returned to India for medical treatment. After recovering, she was heading back to rejoin her husband and children. Her brother and sister-in-law had just dropped her off at the airport when they heard the devastating news.
A Village Grieves
Anju Sharma from Vadodara was on her way to visit her daughter in London. Her village is now in deep mourning. Her elderly parents, both ill, are yet to be told. Her father, an Indian Army veteran, is bedridden. Her uncle, speaking to reporters, couldn’t hold back tears. “Anju kept our family together,” he said.
From Birthday Surprise to Grief
Deepanshi Bhadoria, a young medical student in the UK, had come home to surprise her father on his birthday. Now, her family in Gandhinagar, including her father who works with the CBI, is shattered by her sudden loss.
A Dream to Return Home
Ranjita Gopakumar, a 39-year-old nurse from Kerala, had visited India to settle formalities for a government job. She wanted to return home permanently to give her children and elderly mother a better life. Just days before the crash, she was finalising plans for a new house in her village.
Wedding Plans in Ruins
Kinal Mistry, who worked in London, had come to India for treatment after an accident. She was returning to the UK briefly to maintain her work permit, with plans to soon begin a new life. Those hopes have now turned to ashes.
This tragic crash has not just claimed lives — it has shattered futures, silenced laughter, and broken families across cities and villages. The grief is overwhelming. The loss, unimaginable.
