Some tragedies leave indelible scars on the psyche. Even a change of scene for the person impacted may not wipe out the horrors of the episode.
Four and a half months after the June 12 crash of Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, the only survivor, 39-year-old Viswashkumar Ramesh, said he felt like the “luckiest man” alive. Yet these words seemed nothing more than a hollow consolation.
He is still struggling with physical and mental wounds. His younger brother, Ajaykumar, who was seated in 11J, was among the 241 people who died in the crash. There were 242 people on board the flight (230 passengers and 12 crew members) when it went down shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad.
Ramesh said that although his escape felt like a miracle, the loss of his younger brother and the trauma that followed had left him unable to return to normal life. He said he often sat alone in his room, avoiding conversations with his wife and four-year-old son, and continued to suffer mental distress. He added that every day remained painful for the whole family.
After brief treatment in India, where he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while hospitalised, Ramesh returned to the UK on September 15. He said he had come back to continue his medical treatment under the NHS and to be with his wife Hiral and son Divang, who had just started school. However, he stated that he had not yet received psychiatric counselling or any follow-up under the NHS.
He continues to endure pain in his leg, shoulder, knee and back, which prevents him from working or driving. He mentioned that he walked slowly and required assistance from his wife.
The family’s fishing business in Diu, which Ramesh had been running with his brother, has virtually collapsed, cutting off their main source of income. His father, Ramesh Sr., and two other brothers, Nayankumar and Sunnykumar, attempted to keep it running after the accident but failed due to operational and financial difficulties. His wife’s Universal Credit benefits were halted after she travelled to India for two months following the crash.
A UK government spokesperson told a media outlet that people travelling abroad on account of bereavement could continue receiving Universal Credit for up to two months, rather than the standard one-month limit, but those abroad for longer would lose eligibility. They can reapply upon return to the UK.
According to the report, Air India has offered an interim payment of Rs 25 lakh to be adjusted against any final compensation, an amount Ramesh described as inadequate given UK living costs and his ongoing medical needs. He said that the sum was insufficient to cover mortgage payments and day-to-day expenses.
Community leader Sanjiv Patel and crisis adviser Radd Seiger, who have been assisting the family, was quoted as saying that both Air India and the UK authorities had failed to provide timely or adequate support. Seiger said that repeated requests for a meeting with Air India’s top leadership had gone unanswered.
Patel said Ramesh continued to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and that his case required urgent, tailored assistance. He added that despite repeated outreach, neither the airline nor the British authorities had offered meaningful engagement or support. Seiger noted that appeals for Air India’s CEO to personally meet the sole survivor had been ignored, despite three formal requests through legal channels.
Air India said it was “deeply conscious” of its responsibility to Ramesh and all affected families, adding that senior Tata Group leaders had met several relatives of victims and that an offer to arrange a meeting with Ramesh’s representatives remained open, with outreach continuing.
Community representatives said the situation had become desperate. Ramesh is struggling physically, emotionally, and financially. His family continues to bear the long-term impact of the tragedy. For now, he is focused on managing his pain, improving mobility, and seeking mental health support as he grieves his brother and tries to rebuild his life.
Also Read: Destiny’s Child” Vishwas Wins, Walks Out of Plane After Crash https://www.vibesofindia.com/destinys-child-vishwas-wins-walks-out-of-plane-after-crash/
