‘This tragedy has left our community reeling’
Rescuers work at the site of the horror plane crash(Image: AP)
Members of Greater Manchester’s Indian community are paying emotional tributes to the hundreds killed in the plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday (June 12).
The Air India flight, bound for London Gatwick, was carrying 242 people – including British nationals – and crashed shortly after take-off in India.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was seen in social media videos flying over a residential area before crashing, creating what appeared to be a huge fireball followed by large plumes of black smoke.
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On Thursday, the local police chief revealed how more than 200 bodies were recovered from the crash site, but it was not yet known how many of the were on the plane or on the ground when the aircraft plummeted.
There were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Brits, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on the flight, Air India said in a statement. One Brit from London who had been to visit family miraculously survived the incident.
Stockport’s Labour MP, Navendu Mishra, is of Indian heritage. His mother is from Gorakhpur and his father is from Kanpur, both in Uttar Pradesh.
MP Navendu Mishra (Image: Manchester Evening News)
In a statement to the Manchester Evening News, he said the tragedy will be ‘felt deeply across the Indian community in Britain’, especially those who had close ties with those on board.
“My thoughts are with all those affected by this devastating incident,” he said. “From the families who have lost loved ones and those who are injured, to the emergency responders who continue to work tirelessly at the scene.
“This tragedy will be felt deeply across the Indian community in Britain, many of whom have close ties to those on board the flight. For countless families, the route between India and the UK is one of emotional significance, connecting families and loved ones.
“I share in the grief of those affected, and I extend my heartfelt solidarity to everyone who is mourning during this incredibly difficult time.
“The UK Government is offering support to those affected. British nationals in need of consular assistance, or anyone with concerns about family or friends, are urged to contact the helpline on 020 7008 5000.”
The Indian Society of Manchester said it it was planning to hold a candlelit vigil over the coming days ‘to honour the lives lost’ and ‘come together as a community’.
Search and rescue teams respond to the scene of the plane crash in Ahmedabad(Image: AP)
President Myra Grover said: “As the president of the Indian Society of Manchester, and as someone deeply connected to both the Indian and British communities, I am devastated by the tragic Air India crash that occurred in Ahmedabad earlier today.
“This tragedy has left our community reeling. With 242 lives on board, many of whom were families and young students, the scale of this loss is unimaginable.
“Our thoughts are with every victim, survivor, and the loved ones they leave behind. The Indian Society of Manchester stands in solidarity with the grieving families, many of our members have friends and loved ones who travel frequently between India and the UK, and this news has shaken us all to the core.
“We stand in solidarity with those affected, and we share in the sorrow felt across the Indian diaspora here in the UK and globally.
“We are planning to hold a candlelight vigil on campus this week to honour the lives lost and offer a space for collective reflection and support. In times like these, coming together as a community matters more than ever. May the departed souls rest in peace. We send strength and prayers to their families and salute the tireless efforts of the rescue workers.”
Sanjay Dalmia, of the Rochdale Indian Association, said its members will ‘remember the victims in their prayers’ and will be offering support to anyone in the region affected by the incident.
People stand around the debris of the plane after the crash(Image: AP)
“We express our deepest sympathies and condolences to all the families who lost their loved ones in the Ahmedabad crash,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones during this difficult time.
“We will remember them [the victims] in our prayers (puja) and pray for the departed soul. We will be happy to offer any kind of support needed by anyone in and around North Manchester and Rochdale.”
Fire engines and rescue teams rushed to the scene on Thursday, as photos showed the horrific large-scale wreckage. The plane reportedly crashed into a doctor’s hostel before exploding into a fireball, according to local police.
Several buildings and a car were also burnt in the blaze, though the number of casualties on the ground is yet to be confirmed.
No 10 indicated the public should be prepared for a significant loss of British lives following the London-bound plane crash in India. Asked if the public should prepare for a significant loss of life, a No 10 spokesman said: “Yes. As the PM said this morning, the scenes emerging of the London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city at Ahmedabad are devastating.
“Clearly this is a deeply distressing time for families. The situation is still unfolding.”
A British passenger who walked away from the wreckage of Air India flight 171 shortly after it crashed in Ahmedabad spoke of the tragedy on Thursday evening.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, miraculously survived. Speaking to the Hindustani Times, Vishwash said: “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.”
Vishwash, who suffered impact injuries to his chest, eyes and feet, was treated in the general ward of the Civil Hospital, Asarwa in Ahmedabad.
Mr Ramesh, who has lived in London for 20 years and was in India for a few days to visit family, added: “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.”