AHMEDABAD: A year after surviving the Air India plane crash in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, the lone survivor Viswashkumar Ramesh says he continues to struggle with anxiety, sleepless nights and painful memories.London-bound Flight 171 crashed shortly after taking off on June 12, 2025, killing 260 people. Images of Ramesh walking away from the wreckage with bloodstains on his T-shirt and a mobile phone in his hand were seen across the world.The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was carrying 242 people, including 12 crew members. About 32 seconds after take-off, the aircraft crashed into the student hostel and canteen building of a medical college. While 241 passengers and crew members died, 19 people on the ground were also killed.Today, one year on, Ramesh says he is still trying to rebuild his life.“People see that I have survived, but they don’t always see the challenges that continue behind closed doors,” said Ramesh, in a statement released through his advisor Sanjiv Patel.“A year on, I’m still trying to rebuild my life and support my family as best I can,” he said.Ramesh, 39, who lives with his family in Leicester, lost his brother Ajay in the disaster. He said the tragedy changed him as a person.“I am grateful to be alive, but survival is only part of the story. What I’ve faced since then has been far more difficult than I can put into words,” said Ramesh, adding that he continues to struggle “physically, psychologically and financially”.Ramesh has instructed UK-based Hudgell Solicitors to represent his interests. The firm is assessing possible civil claims linked to the crash, while talks continue with Air India over rehabilitation support for his physical and psychological recovery.“Air India remains committed to supporting every individual impacted by the AI171 tragedy with care and compassion,” an Air India spokesperson said.Patel, a Leicester-based community leader close to Ramesh’s family, said the survivor remains deeply affected by the disaster.“He (Ramesh) is unable to leave his home without support,” said Patel.“He is seriously traumatised still, and those scars will remain with him for a long time, if not forever, ” Patel said.“All the families who are affected by this disaster are suffering trauma. Each and every one of them is going through that journey. And, for Viswash Ramesh and his family it has been devastating to an extent that is unimaginable,” Patel added.In March, Ramesh met representatives of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) in Ahmedabad as part of the official probe into the crash.The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch, which is assisting Indian investigators in an expert capacity, said: “Our thoughts are with those from all nationalities who have been affected by this accident.”‘Demand for a permanent memorial at the crash site’Families of victims of the Air India Ahmedabad plane crash have renewed their demand for a permanent memorial at the crash site, opposing the Gujarat government’s decision to demolish the damaged hostel buildings of BJ Medical College and redevelop the area.A lawyer representing several affected families said relatives had written to aviation authorities last month, urging them to preserve the sanctity of the site where the tragedy took place.The appeal came after the state government announced plans to raze the existing hostel structures and construct new blocks on the land.In an email sent to the authorities, a copy of which is with TOI, the families said, “For us, this place is not merely land or infrastructure. It is a site connected to lives, memories, grief, and irreversible loss.”They urged authorities to preserve the area as a memorial instead of building new public facilities there.The letter added that the memorial would serve “not only as a place of remembrance for families, but also as a permanent public acknowledgement of the lives lost and the importance of accountability and safety”.As the first death anniversary of the June 12 crash approaches, memories of the tragedy have resurfaced for families who lost their loved ones.For 24-year-old Janvi Purohit from Khambholaj village in Anand, the anniversary has brought back painful memories of her brother Akash.“No money can bring the dead back or fill the void. Both my parents are heart patients and have been suffering from panic attacks since the tragedy. I believe there should be a permanent tribute and a memorial should be built at the crash site to honour all those who have lost their lives,” she said.Parth Patel, who lost his mother, uncle and aunt in the crash, also backed the demand for a memorial.“To the world, this is a redevelopment zone, but to the families, this soil is where their world ended. A permanent memorial should be made at the crash site to remember the souls,” he said.(With inputs from PTI)
