Kurukshetra (Haryana) [India], June 13 : Anju Sharma was among 241 deceased who died in the AI 171 plane crash that took place in Ahmedabad a day ago. According to her relative, she was the eldest one in the family and used to keep everyone connected.
She was on her way to England to meet her daughter when the Air India 171 aircraft met its ill-fate.
Speaking to ANI, Sanjiv Kumar, a relative of Anju Sharma, a native of Kurukshetra who lost her life in the Ahmedabad plane crash, said, "...She was travelling to England to meet her daughter. Her parents stay here in the village. She used to be very active in the family...We got to know about this incident yesterday. She was the eldest in the family, and she used to keep everyone connected..."
Meanwhile, the lone survivor of the crash, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who miraculously escaped death, shared his horrified experience.
In an interview with Doordarshan, he narrated the incident and said that his seat, 11-A, was situated in a part of the plane that had landed on the ground floor of the building, which it had crashed into.
Sharing the horrific experience, he said that all he saw were the bodies of passengers and crew members.
Vishwash said, "The side where I was sitting wasn't on the hostel side, it was the ground floor of the hostel. I don't know about others, but the place I was sitting that portion landed on the ground floor, and there was some space. As soon as my door broke, I saw that there was some space, and then I tried to get out, and I got out. There was a building wall on the opposite side, and the plane had crashed completely on that side, so probably that is why nobody could get out from that side. There was space only where I was. I don't know how I survived. When the fire broke out, my left hand also got burned. Then I was admitted to the hospital. People here are treating me well. People are very nice here."
Vishwash's survival is no less than a miracle. For some time, he had thought that he would also die, but miraculously escaped death.
"PM Modi asked me about the incident. It all happened in front of my eyes. I couldn't even believe how I was saved. For instance, I thought I would also die. But when I opened my eyes, I was alive. I removed my seat belt and escaped from there. Bodies of uncle-aunties and air hostesses were there..."
Explaining about the incident, Vishwash said, "After takeoff, for 5-10 seconds, we felt like everything was stuck. Green and white lights were turned on the plane. I think the plane's speed was increased for takeoff, and it crashed into the hostel's building. It all happened in front of my eyes."
A total of 241 people onboard the Boeing 787-8, Air India flight 171, including 12 crew members, have died in the deadly Ahmedabad plane crash, Air India confirmed post-midnight on Friday.
The passenger plane crashed near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Gujarat's Ahmedabad into a resident doctors' hostel building shortly after take-off.