In the stillness of early morning, Anil Ambalal Patel found himself reflecting on the immense loss he had just endured—his son, Harshit, and daughter-in-law, Pooja were tragically snatched away from him in a plane crash. As he prepared to lay their ashes to rest in the Narmada River, memories flooded back, illustrating the love and hope they brought to his life.
The mourning process for Mr. Patel, a 60-year-old widower, began twelve days earlier when he bid farewell to Harshit and Pooja. They had returned to India for a brief visit, filling his home with joy after relocating to Britain in pursuit of a brighter future. The unexpected disaster struck on June 12 when Air India Flight 171 took off from Ahmedabad, ultimately claiming the lives of 260 individuals.
“They were my everything,” Mr. Patel shared in a poignant reflection on his family’s significance in his life. In a country of 1.4 billion people, the struggles and aspirations of families like the Patels often fade into obscurity, lost in the overwhelming complexities and inequalities present in society. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the profound impact of personal loss.
The mourning process for Mr. Patel, a 60-year-old widower, began twelve days earlier when he bid farewell to Harshit and Pooja. They had returned to India for a brief visit, filling his home with joy after relocating to Britain in pursuit of a brighter future. The unexpected disaster struck on June 12 when Air India Flight 171 took off from Ahmedabad, ultimately claiming the lives of 260 individuals.
“They were my everything,” Mr. Patel shared in a poignant reflection on his family’s significance in his life. In a country of 1.4 billion people, the struggles and aspirations of families like the Patels often fade into obscurity, lost in the overwhelming complexities and inequalities present in society. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the profound impact of personal loss.
