Imtiyaz Ali Sayed stands motionless, refusing to grieve for his younger brother Javed, who died alongside his wife and two children in a tragic Air India crash on Thursday. As hours turn into a night filled with anguish, he remains steadfast in his search, confident that the act of holding on will lead him to closure. "You don't understand. They were my life - if I give up now, I might never be able to recover," he reveals, sharing pictures of his missing family, taken just moments before their flight.
The disaster struck shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner collided with a medical college, igniting a fierce fireball. Witnesses narrative a scene of devastation, where metal and flames rained down on a densely populated neighborhood, claiming the lives of at least eight individuals on the ground, in addition to the passengers. Efforts to identify victims have proved difficult amid the wreckage, as DNA testing is now required due to the extent of destruction.
Families camp outside the Civil Hospital, their cries echoing in the stark corridors. Sameer Shaikh is among them, having flown from Pune after learning that his son Irfan, an Air India crew member, was among the casualties. Devastated by the news, he is forced to wait for DNA testing before retrieving his son’s body.
Meanwhile, Payal Thakur remains frantic as she searches for her mother Sarla, who worked at the hostel where the aircraft struck. Sarla had decided to stay back to prepare food for arriving students, only to find herself in the middle of the tragic event. The confusion and chaos that followed only deepened the family's turmoil, as they desperately seek information with little to no leads on her whereabouts.
The campus where the crash unfolded is now shrouded in somber silence, as students who were once in the midst of their day-to-day activities are left stunned and traumatized. The aftermath has transformed lives, as families navigate the uncertainty and heartbreak brought on by this unexpected calamity. As they await news, many cling to hope, believing that their relentless pursuit of answers will lead to the closure they desperately seek.
