For 40-year-old Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, it was a usual flight but just about 30 seconds after the Ahmedabad London Air India flight took off, things changed completely. Within the next five minutes, the plane had crashed.
Even as hundreds are believed to be dead and Vibes of India is still waiting for the death toll in the tragedy, the only positive aspect of the day was seeing a young man walk out of the flame engulfed 787 Boeing. Vishwas walked away with minor injuries.
He is right now admitted at the Civil hospital where he is administered primary aid. “I believe in God”. I am still waiting for my brother who was traveling with me”, Vishwas said.
“Thirty seconds after the plane took off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed,” said Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old, one of the few survivors or perhaps only survivor of the ill-fated Air India flight AI 171 that crashed soon after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon.
There were 242 people on board in the ill-fated flight. There is no official confirmation about the dead. Bodies are yet to be recovered. The plane crashed in a busy area of Ahmedabad and atleast five medical students who were having lunch in their hostel canteen have died. Other 20 have been admitted to Civil hospital with burn injuries. The plane crashed near the B J Medical College campus. Several residents in the hospital campus who are families of doctors and para medical staff are also believed to be dead.
Out of the 242 passengers, 10 were crew members, aboard the ill-fated Boeing. Among those aboard included former Gujarat chief minister and BJP leader, Vijay Rupani, 53 British citizens. Seven Portuguese citizens and one Canadian citizen on the flight. Rest 169 were Indian citizens. The dead include the pilot Sumit Sabrawal who had experience of about 8700 flight hours.
Seated on seat 11-A, Vishwas, a British national, now lies in the general ward of the Civil Hospital. However, this is sheer Vishwas’ destiny that he has survived. In fact, he walked into the hospital after he was brought in an ambulance.
“Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,” Vishwas, who has received “impact injuries” on his chest, eyes and feet, said.
The 787 aircraft, believed to be the safest of all Boeings had 242 people, including crew members, took off at 1.39 pm on Thursday and crashed within five minutes and burst into flames.
Vishwas was in India for a few days to visit his family and was going back to the UK along with his brother, Ajay Kumar Ramesh (45).
Vishwas said that when he got up after the crash, all he could see were bodies around him. “I could not believe what I saw. I just stood up and started running. s There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital,” he said.
Vishwas said he had lived in London for 20 years, adding that his wife and child too live in London. “They were scared but now know that I am alive. I am sad for all who have lost their lives”, he said.
It was destiny that though the two brothers had requested a seat together, due to high occupancy and last minute requests, they could not sit together. They sat separately. Vishwas was on seat number 11 A.
He said that his brother Ajay was seated in a different row on the plane. “We visited Diu. He was travelling with me and I can’t find him anymore. Please help me find him,” he said.
Also Read: Over 100 Feared Dead In Air India Plane Crash: Reports https://www.vibesofindia.com/over-100-feared-dead-in-air-india-plane-crash-reports/
