Harrow Community Reels from Air India Disaster, Mourning Loss of Loved Ones

The Air India plane disaster on Thursday resulted in the loss of over 240 lives, leaving countless individuals in mourning. The impact of this tragedy is particularly profound within a north-west London community, located approximately 4,000 miles from the crash site in Ahmedabad.

The spiritual leader of a temple in Harrow, has stated that twenty of the victims had connections to the temple. Multiple families are now grappling with the devastating reality of their loss. Among those who perished in the Dreamliner crash were a mother and father who had previously lost their son, a pilot, in a plane crash in France a few years prior.

Members of the British Gujarati community have been gathering at the International Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow to pay their respects and offer support. The spiritual leader, Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, expressed the immense sorrow caused by the crash, revealing that he personally knew twenty individuals who were on the ill-fated Air India flight. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport.

Mr. Guruji, who has resided in the UK since 1993, shared that he received numerous calls and messages about the crash. He learned that his priest had flown from Gatwick to Ahmedabad on the same flight, but on the outbound journey. After confirming his colleague's safety, Mr. Guruji began receiving calls from India and from his worshippers who had lost loved ones or knew people on the flight.

He received information from a police officer in Gujarati, who informed him that a former chief minister was on board. Upon reviewing a list of passengers provided by the Indian police, he recognized some of the names. He then spent the day contacting the families of the victims, offering support and comfort.

He recounted the heartbreaking story of a family who lost both parents in the crash, having previously lost their son, a pilot, in a separate plane crash. According to Hindu beliefs, cremation and the scattering of ashes are essential for liberating the soul. However, the nature of the crash may prevent the recovery of some victims' remains.

Navin Shah, a retired architect and former Labour chair of the London Assembly, who worships at the Harrow temple, was deeply affected by the crash. Having grown up near the crash site, he expressed concern about the unknown number of casualties on the ground. He received a call from his nephew informing him of the tragedy and soon realized that the community would be disproportionately impacted.

A prayer service was held at the temple, where Mr. Shah met a young man who had lost his grandparents in the crash. He also encountered a young woman mourning the loss of her father-in-law. Services and prayers are planned at the Harrow centre in the coming days, including an inter-faith ceremony to honor the deceased.