London dreams shattered: Family dies in Ahmedabad crash

Ahmedabad

A devastating plane crash that claimed 242 lives has left the country in deep sorrow. Among the victims was a young couple, Pratik Joshi and Dr Komi Vyas, along with their three children, whose story has touched hearts nationwide.

Pratik, a software engineer, and Komi, a doctor, were headed to London to start a new life. Tragically, their flight—Air India AI-171—crashed just moments after taking off from Ahmedabad, killing everyone on board, including their children: 8-year-old Miraya and 5-year-old twins Nakul and Pradyut.

A photo taken moments before take-off shows the smiling family seated across the aisle from each other. This final image, now widely shared online, has become a painful reminder of lives filled with dreams that ended too soon.

Pratik had been living in London for six years and was preparing for his family’s arrival. Dr Vyas, a dedicated physician from Udaipur’s Pacific Hospital, had resigned just two days earlier to join her husband abroad. Friends and neighbours describe the couple as kind, hardworking, and deeply loving parents.

The crash occurred at 1:38 pm in Meghani Nagar, Ahmedabad. The plane, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, crashed within 32 seconds of take-off, possibly due to engine thrust failure. The impact was severe, setting parts of a residential area on fire.

The loss has especially shaken Udaipur and Banswara, where many victims, including the Joshi family, were from. As investigations continue, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder not just of aviation risks, but of the lives and dreams lost in an instant.