Sham Borse told of his heartbreak at the loss of Gaurav and Kalyani Brahmbhatt in the tragedySham Borse with his wife Sarika, and children Aayash, 12, and Aaria, five(Image: Manchester Evening News)

With one of their nation’s most revered icons looking on, Manchester’s Indian community remembered the victims of the Air India plane crash.

Religious leaders of different faiths were joined by politicians and members of the public, who lit a candle and bowed their head in prayer around the statue of Mahatma Ghandi, next to Manchester Cathedral in the city centre.

The moving vigil followed Thursday’s plane crash, which saw all but one of the passengers and crew on the flight lose their lives. The plane, which was bound for London, crashed shortly after take off in Ahemdabad, western India. The cause of the tragedy remains under investigation.

At least 270 people have been confirmed dead, including victims on the ground where the plane crashed. Two of those to have perished included husband and wife Gaurav and Kalyani Brahmbhatt, both 45.

The couple had two children, who were not on the flight and were staying with grandparents. They had been taking a trip to the UK to visit pals including Sham Borse, who lives in Altrincham.

An image of husband and wife Gaurav and Kalyani Brahmbhatt, both 45, who died in the Air India plane crash.(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Sham and his wife Sarika, and children Aayash, 12, and Aaria, five, all attended the vigil in Manchester to remember their friends. He was one of a number of speakers at Saturday evening’s event, attended by more than 100 people.

Sham moved to the UK alongside Gaurav and Kalyani to study for a Masters degree, after completing their bachelors degrees in India. The couple later returned to their native country.

Sham told the Manchester Evening News: “We were very, very close. We were such close friends. They never used to tell us that they were coming to the UK, they just used to ring us and say ‘guess where I am!’ They used to visit us every year.

“We are best friends. The three of us came together to the UK, Guarav, myself and Kalyani, from our university in India.

“They were my family. I knew no-one except them in the UK. It is very shocking. I’m still in shock. I still have a lot of questions to ask.”

The Very Reverend Rogers Govender, the Dean of Manchester, was among the speakers at the vigil(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Sham, who works for a pharmaceutical company, recalled the moment he heard of the terrible news. He said: “In the morning I came to know there was a crash. Gaurav had called me to let me know he was coming in June.

“But I was not sure whether he was on the same flight. I was not expecting that he’d be on the same flight.

“Suddenly I started getting lots of messages from my friends. Then they got the passenger list and they saw the names, Gaurav and Kalyani. Suddenly I was very shocked. Straight away I called him, but he was not answering.

“Then I suddenly came to know, and I started crying. I was very upset with the news.”

He told how he felt it important to be at the vigil to remember those who have died. Sham added: “I came here to represent all of my friends who are here in the UK, and to convey the message to everyone, we lost our friends but not only them, we lost our wider brothers and sisters who were on the flight.”

The event was organised by Coun Vimal Choksi of Tameside council. He said: “It is an extremely difficult and challenging time, and this is a time for reflection and for everybody to come together in a community, multi-faith vigil, to be able to say we remember the good lives they led.

“There are a number of temples across Greater Manchester are undertaking similar vigils in their own facilities. There will be a lot of remembrance and events that are taking place all across Manchester.”