Families of Air India crash victims facing ‘pain and frustration' over delays

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off on Thursday in what is one of the deadliest plane accidents in terms of the number of British nationals killed.
The aircraft struck a medical college hostel in a residential part of Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board, 52 of whom were British.
The sole surviving passenger was Briton Vishwash Kumar Ramesh.
Relatives of Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter Sara Nanabawa, who died in the crash, said they felt 'utterly abandoned' by the UK Government and called for more support on the ground in India.
A spokesman for the family, who lived in Gloucester, said they had to make appointments to see consular staff 20 minutes away in a hotel in Ahmedabad while their loved ones 'lie unidentified in an overstretched and under-resourced hospital'.
Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer told the House of Commons that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) had set up its reception centre at a hotel close to the airport 'because we thought that would be the best place to receive British nationals rather than the hospital where, tragically, there are no living British nationals'.
He added: 'But we keep these questions under review, as I know from my own experience in tragedies like this, it is difficult to get the assistance that British nationals need right first time, and we will learn lessons as each step goes through.'
Among the Britons believed to have been on the Gatwick-bound flight was Arjun Patoliya, who had flown to Gujarat from London to scatter the ashes of his wife, Bharti.
Others included radiologist Dr Prateek Joshi, from Derby, and sisters Dhir and Heer Baxi, couple Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, and Raxa Modha, Rudra Modha and K Mistri, from Wellingborough.
UK air accident investigators are in India and are assisting the Indian authorities, the Government said.
Relatives of the Nanabawa family said they had 'key concerns' over the 'lack of transparency and oversight in the identification and handling of remains'.
They called for a 'full crisis team' at the hospital within 24 hours, a British-run identification unit, and financial support for relatives of the victims.
Mr Falconer said: 'We are, of course, also in regular close contact with Air India about the support package that they are offering, which includes funding flights and full repatriation costs to bring loved ones home.
'I understand how frustrating it is for families who have not yet been able to lay their loved ones to rest, and I recognise the pain and frustration that this has caused. The Indian authorities are working around the clock with UK support to be able to do this.'
He said the process of identifying remains is 'difficult but necessarily time consuming'.
Asked by West Bromwich MP Sarah Coombes how her constituents can have confidence when they go and visit family in India in the wake of the tragedy, Mr Falconer said 'we will continue to do all that we can' so that 'constituents across the house can feel confident'.
The minister also told MPs that a British Red Cross psychological support officer is also in India 'helping families cope with the tragic, emotional impact'.
An FCDO spokeswoman said: 'Our staff continue to work around the clock in the UK and India to support the families and loved ones of all those impacted by the crash.
'We have set up a reception centre at the Ummed Hotel, near the Ahmedabad airport, and have a dedicated helpline to provide support and advice for the families and friends of British nationals – friends or family should call 020 7008 5000.
'If you are in India, you should call +91 (11) 24192100 for support, including through in-person consular staff who are available to support families of British nationals, including accompanying them to the hospital.
'Furthermore, the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch has deployed an investigation team to support the Indian-led investigation on the ground, and UK forensic experts are there to support the consular response.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Scottish Sun

2 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

Family pay touching tribute to ‘beautiful soul' son, 20, who died after getting into difficulty while swimming

Friends have also praised the 'lovely' and 'caring young lad' for having a 'heart of gold' RIVER TRAGEDY Family pay touching tribute to 'beautiful soul' son, 20, who died after getting into difficulty while swimming Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE family of a boy who died after getting into difficulty while swimming in a river have paid tribute to their "beautiful soul" son. Jacob Rutkowski, 20, from Darlington, County Durham, is understood to have began to struggle after entering the River Tees in Gainford on Friday afternoon. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Tributes have poured in for Jacob Rutkowski, 20, following his death Credit: North News and Pictures 2 The young man died after getting into difficulty in the River Tees at Gainford on Friday afternoon Credit: Alamy Despite a huge emergency response to try to rescue the young man - including the deployment of an air ambulance, mountain rescue crews, police helicopter, paramedics and fire crews - he tragically died. Now, Jacob's family has released a touching tribute as part of a fundraiser to help support the family. The GoFundMe page reads: "As many of you have already heard, our family experienced the unimaginable. "This devastating loss has left our entire family heartbroken beyond words. "He was a son, a brother, a loving boyfriend — and above all, a beautiful soul taken far too soon." The family explained they were raising funds to help with funeral and memorial costs, as well as to support the family "during this painful time". They added: "Anything you can give will help ease the burden and allow us to focus on grieving and honouring his memory. "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts." At time of writing, Jacob's GoFundMe has already raised more than £1,650, helping it towards its goal of £4,500. At around 2.30pm on Friday, emergency crews had rushed to the small rural village of Gainford at around to try to save Jacob. A British 45-year-old woman drowns at a Lanzarote beach Police cordoned off an area where ambulance incident response teams and the fire service water unit parked up - both blocking access to the river banks. Drones were also seen flying above the river while dogs patrolled the ground to help rescue Jacob. Tragically, however, Durham Police eventually confirmed it had found a body in the river. In a statement on Friday, cops said: "We're sorry to report that a body has been found in the river at Gainford this evening. "It is believed a 20-year-old man had entered the water this afternoon and got into difficulty. "Formal identification has yet to take place but the man's family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. "We would like to thank all our emergency services partners for their assistance." 'I JUST CAN'T GET OVER IT' Other tributes to Jacob have also poured in, describing the 20-year-old as having a "heart of gold". One friend wrote: "Such a caring young lad honestly, sending my love and thoughts to the family. "I just can't get over it, he was so lovely. Breaks my heart, forever 20." Another said: "Absolutely heartbroken for my friend and her family. Life is just so precious." A third wrote: "What a lad. He was taken way to soon."

Daily Mirror

6 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

UK heatwave leaves renters boiling as 1m private rent homes fail basic standards

One in five privately rented homes would fail the government's Decent Homes Standard - and of those, almost 400,000 can't be maintained at liveable temperatures More than a million privately rented homes are failing basic living standards - as soaring temperatures leave renters boiling. One in five privately rented homes would fail the government's Decent Homes Standard. ‌ And of those, almost 400,000 can't be maintained at liveable temperatures, according to Lib Dem analysis of House of Commons data. ‌ The party is calling on the government to commit to an emergency home insulation programme and urgently implement new decent home standards. "The condition of rented homes is shameful," Lib Dem Energy Spokesperson Pippa Heylings said. "After years of Conservative failure to commit to upgrading homes and implementing new decent standards, renters now pay through the nose for homes that don't meet the basic standards of safety and health. This cannot continue." as soaring temperatures leave renters boiling. Half a million (496,000) privately rented homes - more than 10% of all private rented accommodation in the country - are rated with category 1 hazards. This is the most serious rating and poses serious and immediate risk to people's health and safety. A further 298,000 homes were deemed not in a reasonable state of repair - this could mean anything from not being structurally sound, to damp, rot and pest infestations. And another 88,000 privately rented homes failed DHS because they did not have suitable modern services and facilities such as a working toilet.

Daily Mirror

9 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Lavender thrives and 'will thank you' if you add 2 things to garden soil now

There's nothing worse than a sad-looking lavender bush, especially if you've planted it at the front of your flowerbed. But there are two things you can add to your soil that will help it thrive Lavender is a quintessential feature of many British gardens, its elegant foliage adding a touch of charm to flowerbeds and borders. It's not just a visual delight either; it serves as a natural pest deterrent, particularly for ants, whilst attracting vital pollinators to the ecosystem. However, a droopy lavender bush can be a real eyesore, especially if it's front and centre in your flowerbed. ‌ Despite being relatively easy to maintain, lavender does require certain care to ensure a healthy and abundant bloom. As a Mediterranean plant that flourishes in sunlight, it doesn't need much watering but does require well-draining soil for optimal growth. ‌ Interestingly, lavender is drought-resistant, and overwatering can lead to root rot if the soil isn't suitable, reports the Express. If you find your lavender looking a bit sparse despite using well-draining soil, horticulturist @ has revealed two additions to your soil that could help your lavender prosper. In a TikTok video, the gardening guru explained that the "two main lavenders you'll come across are English and French lavender". He noted that while English lavender is "a little bit more hardy", French lavender typically "flowers for longer". Despite their differences, it's essential to ensure "free-draining soil is absolutely crucial" for both types of lavender. Free or well-draining soil is defined as soil that allows water to flow through swiftly, creating the arid conditions that lavender thrives in. ‌ Sandy soils are often chosen for plants needing excellent drainage, but Ish also suggests incorporating two additional elements into your soil to make lavender "absolutely thrive". To enhance soil quality and its draining capability, grit and sand can be mixed into the earth. While these additions aid in drainage, it's vital not to overwater. Ish advises keeping lavender in "lightly moist soil", cautioning that many gardeners lose their lavender "because they overwater it or water it daily like most of their plants, and it causes root rot". Neglecting to trim your lavender during the summer may lead to a woody and thin appearance, but subpar soil and excessive watering can "cause black foliage and make it go gooey at the top". Instead, "your lavender will thank you" if you water it sparingly, or even rely on rainfall, ensuring it has time to dry out thoroughly afterwards.