Ahmedabad, June 13 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of Thursday’s catastrophic Air India crash, during his visit to Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital. Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, is currently receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the crash that claimed numerous lives.
The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, headed for London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport around 1:30 p.m. The aircraft plunged into the hostel premises of BJ Medical College in the densely populated Meghaninagar area, just three kilometres from the airport. At the time, dozens of MBBS students were gathered in the mess-cum-dining hall for lunch and had little time to react.
Ramesh, who was travelling with his elder brother, Ajay Kumar Rakesh, recounted the horrifying seconds leading up to the crash during his emotional meeting with the Prime Minister.
“My brother was seated in a different row and didn’t survive. I still don’t know how I made it out alive,” he said. “For a while, I thought I was going to die. Everything happened in front of my eyes — the noise, the impact, the fire. I somehow found a small space to escape.”
According to Ramesh, the aircraft appeared to stall shortly after takeoff before suddenly nosediving and slamming into the hostel building. His seat on the side opposite the impact zone ultimately saved his life. Despite sustaining injuries, Ramesh managed to walk away from the wreckage and has since been receiving adequate medical attention.
Prime Minister Modi also met with several other crash victims, including students injured in the hostel that bore the brunt of the impact. Emergency responders and investigators continue their large-scale operation to recover and identify victims, while efforts to hand over bodies to families are underway.
Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the cause of the crash, which is being described as one of the worst aviation tragedies in recent Indian history.
