Imtiyaz Ali Sayed, a Mumbai businessman, grapples with an unimaginable loss after his brother Javed, along with his family, perished in a horrific Air India crash on Thursday. The crash, which claimed 241 lives with only one survivor, has plunged families into prolonged anguish as they await the identification of the deceased.
Sayed, refusing to accept the grim reality, remains resolute in his search for closure: “You don’t understand. They were my life - if I give up now, I might never be able to recover.” His determination is palpable as he cycles through memories and photographs of his loved ones just moments before the flight.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner met disaster shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, crashing into a medical college in a densely populated neighborhood. Eyewitness Mukesh described the moment of impact: "There was a loud roar, a deafening screech, and then suddenly, debris rained down." Tragically, at least eight casualties occurred on the ground as well, compounding the heartbreak.
Authorities are deployed to the site to tackle the chaos, but the scale of the destruction has made victim identification daunting. A volunteer at the Civil Hospital noted the disturbing condition of the remains: “It’s like trying to tell ashes apart from ashes.”
Families, visibly distressed, camp outside the hospital, enduring the agonizing wait. Sameer Shaikh, grieving the loss of his son Irfan, laid bare the excruciating process of identification. Having rushed from Pune, he was met with the heartbreaking reality of delayed returns.
The crash also reverberated through the BJ Medical College Civil Hospital, where Sarla, a mother and cook, remains unaccounted for after the destructive impact. Crying for their missing loved ones, her family, along with others, are engulfed in uncertainty, sharing the weight of grief, panic, and chaos.
The aftermath reflects a campus gripped by shock. Students emerged from classrooms, their innocence shattered as they witnessed the calamitous event unfold. The echoes of cries and hospital sirens serve as haunting reminders of the day.
As families cling to hope, the search for answers continues, underscoring resilience even in the depths of despair. The government pledges to expedite DNA testing, but for the victims' families, the emotional toll is immeasurable.
Sayed, refusing to accept the grim reality, remains resolute in his search for closure: “You don’t understand. They were my life - if I give up now, I might never be able to recover.” His determination is palpable as he cycles through memories and photographs of his loved ones just moments before the flight.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner met disaster shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, crashing into a medical college in a densely populated neighborhood. Eyewitness Mukesh described the moment of impact: "There was a loud roar, a deafening screech, and then suddenly, debris rained down." Tragically, at least eight casualties occurred on the ground as well, compounding the heartbreak.
Authorities are deployed to the site to tackle the chaos, but the scale of the destruction has made victim identification daunting. A volunteer at the Civil Hospital noted the disturbing condition of the remains: “It’s like trying to tell ashes apart from ashes.”
Families, visibly distressed, camp outside the hospital, enduring the agonizing wait. Sameer Shaikh, grieving the loss of his son Irfan, laid bare the excruciating process of identification. Having rushed from Pune, he was met with the heartbreaking reality of delayed returns.
The crash also reverberated through the BJ Medical College Civil Hospital, where Sarla, a mother and cook, remains unaccounted for after the destructive impact. Crying for their missing loved ones, her family, along with others, are engulfed in uncertainty, sharing the weight of grief, panic, and chaos.
The aftermath reflects a campus gripped by shock. Students emerged from classrooms, their innocence shattered as they witnessed the calamitous event unfold. The echoes of cries and hospital sirens serve as haunting reminders of the day.
As families cling to hope, the search for answers continues, underscoring resilience even in the depths of despair. The government pledges to expedite DNA testing, but for the victims' families, the emotional toll is immeasurable.
