Indian Community in London Holds Vigil for Ahmedabad Plane Crash Victims

The Indian diaspora in London came together to honor the lives lost in the Air India plane crash that occurred in Ahmedabad. A gathering took place outside the Indian High Commission, where floral tributes were laid as a mark of respect. Kunal, a member of the Indian community from Ahmedabad, shared his sentiments and offered prayers for the victims’ peace, wishing for such incidents to be prevented in the future. In India, various locations also saw tributes. In Haridwar, Uttarakhand, people gathered at the Ganga River to pray, light lamps, and perform rituals. In Tamil Nadu, the Rameswaram People’s Protection Council held a ceremony at Agni Theertham beach. At King George Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, a condolence meeting was held. The Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 aircraft, crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday. The plane was headed to London’s Gatwick Airport. Tragically, only one out of 242 individuals on board survived. The aircraft departed from runway 23 at 1339 IST (0809 UTC), issuing a Mayday call, before crashing outside the airport. The flight manifest included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national.