Eleven from Rajasthan among victims of Air India crash after take-off from Ahmedabad
Eleven persons from Rajasthan were among the passengers on board the Air India flight that crashed shortly after take-off from the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday (June 12, 2025). The victims from the State included five members of a physician's family from Banswara, who were relocating to London.
Software professional Pratik Joshi and his physician wife Komi Vyas were travelling to London with their three children on the ill-fated flight. Dr. Vyas had recently resigned from a private hospital in Udaipur, intending to begin medical practice in London and reside with her husband, who had moved there in 2016.
Two siblings, Shubh Modi and Shagun Modi, from the family of a marble businessman in Udaipur, were also among the passengers. After completing their business administration studies, the two had joined their father's business. They were travelling to London for leisure.
Udaipur Collector Namit Mehta visited their residence in the city to meet the family. Mr. Mehta said Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma had enquired about the victims and assured the family of all possible support.
In a statement, Mr. Sharma said Rajasthan, being a neighbouring State, was ready to provide all possible assistance to the Gujarat government in this hour of grief. He also expressed condolences on the death of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in the plane crash. Mr. Sharma spoke to the families of the victims from Rajasthan over the telephone and consoled them. The district administration, which remained in touch with the bereaved families, ensured all possible help.
Two other passengers from Udaipur district, Vardhichand Menaria and Prakash Menaria, employed in the culinary sector in the United Kingdom, had returned to India on holiday. They were en route to London to resume work.
Abhinav Parihar from Bikaner and Khushboo Rajpurohit from Balotra were also among those on board.
Governor Haribhau Bagade, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, and Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani expressed grief over the deaths.
As a mark of respect for the deceased, both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Opposition Congress suspended their scheduled programmes until further notice. The BJP had planned political events including rallies and press conferences to mark 11 years of the Narendra Modi government, while the Congress had scheduled 'Samvidhan Bachao' rallies in Pratapgarh and Banswara.
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