Air India plane crash: Among dead, two sisters going on vacation to London, mom returning after dropping daughter

In Anand district, a distraught family recalled that Bhavna Rana and her sister Anandi Rana had been looking forward to their two-month vacation in London, where Bhavna’s two children live. An employee of a hospital in Karamsad, Bhavna had been saving her leaves to make the visit — her first to the UK.

Amit Rana, Bhavna and Anandi’s nephew, said, “My paternal aunt, Bhavna, had taken leave for two months to visit London. Both my paternal aunts were on the flight. Our family members are in Ahmedabad to look for them… We are unable to come to terms with this and are hoping for a miracle.”

Relatives of Rupal Patel (44), from Uttarsanda in Anand, said she was on her way back after having come to India for treatment and that she has two young children in the UK.

“Her brother, Pawan Patel, had gone to drop her off at the airport and had just got back to Anand when he learnt about the crash and turned around to return to Ahmedabad to find her. Unfortunately, she has not been traced and we are devastated at the thought of having lost her… She has two young children. Her husband is on his way to India. Her parents have been living here over 35 years. This is a painful loss for us all,” said a close family friend.

Nancy Patel (35) was returning to London after dropping off her young daughter with her husband’s family in Vadodara. Their neighbours said, “It is heartbreaking news. Her parents departed for Ahmedabad immediately to submit their DNA samples and try to look for her… She had only come to drop off her daughter in India and was to come back shortly to take her back. Our heart goes out to the family, especially the little daughter.”

An Air India plane crashes moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport, Thursday. (Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)

Kheda Collector Amit Prakash Yadav confirmed that 17 residents of various talukas of the district are feared killed in the crash. These include Mehmadabad resident Rudra Patel (20); Thasra residents Jiya Parvez Vohra (6), Parvez Vahora (32); Nadiad residents Mahadev Pawar (75) and wife Ashaben (65), as well as Hina Patel; Kathalal residents Prashant Patel (49) and Piyush Patel (29); Rupal Patel (44) from Uttarsanda; Pravin Patel and Ranjanben Patel from Mahuda; Rajnikant Darji and wife Pushpa, as well as Vasuben Raj, from Vaso; Ajay Patel from Vadtal; and Purnima Patel from Dakor.

Of these, relatives of Piyush Patel are based in Canada and have been contacted by the administration to come to India and give their DNA samples.

Yadav said, “Our team is at the civil hospital in Ahmedabad. We are in close contact with all family members of affected persons. These are the details of passengers on board the Air India flight… Relatives of all of the above passengers have given their DNA samples at Ahmedabad civil hospital… We are not making any statements about death until confirmed by the competent authority.”

Family members of one of the victims in Ahmedabad. (Reuters)

Bhavik Maheshwari (26), a resident of Vadodara who was based in London for the last couple of years, had come home around 10 days ago for his wedding, and was returning on the ill-fated flight. Bhavik left behind Isha Maheshwari from Ahmedabad’s Bavla. They had got married on June 10. An inconsolable Isha Maheshwari barely shifted her gaze from her hands, adorned with dark red mehndi.

As her family urged her to stay strong, her eyes remained transfixed, and she showed no reaction to the wails of other grieving relatives around her.