PM Modi Meets Sole Survivor of Ahmedabad Air India Crash

Ahmedabad : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the lone survivor of the tragic Air India plane crash that claimed 241 lives. Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, is currently undergoing treatment for his injuries at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad.

Ramesh had been traveling with his elder brother, 45-year-old Ajay Kumar Rakesh, who was among those killed when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon.

Speaking to the Prime Minister, an emotional Ramesh said, “My brother was seated in another row and didn’t make it. I don’t know how I survived. For a moment, I thought it was the end. Everything happened right before my eyes — the loud noise, the explosion, the fire. Somehow, I managed to crawl through a gap and escape.”

Recounting the moments before the crash, Ramesh said, “The aircraft seemed to stall moments after takeoff. Then, without warning, it nosedived and struck a building. I was on the opposite side of the impact, and that probably saved my life.”

Despite his injuries, Ramesh was seen walking away from the wreckage and has since been receiving critical care at the hospital. He told the Prime Minister that the doctors and staff were providing him with excellent treatment.

PM Modi also visited other crash victims at the hospital, many of whom were students of BJ Medical College. The plane had crashed into the college hostel, which was filled with young MBBS students at the time. Many were in the dining hall when the aircraft struck the building around 1:30 p.m.

The ill-fated flight, AI-171, was bound for London and had 242 people on board, including 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and two pilots. It had taken off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport and crashed just 3 km away in the densely populated Meghaninagar area.

Authorities have launched an extensive rescue and investigation operation. While families begin the painful process of identifying and claiming the bodies of their loved ones, forensic teams and aviation experts continue examining the crash site to determine what caused one of India’s most devastating aviation disasters in recent history.