Families Gather for Candlelight Tribute After Air India Tragedy

Families of the 260 people who lost their lives when an Air India Boeing 787 crashed in Ahmedabad a year ago will meet on Friday for prayers and a candlelight ceremony. The memorial is held near the B. J. Medical College, close to the hostel where the wreckage landed. Politicians and officials will also attend the event. The damaged buildings still show the marks of the accident and are closed to visitors. The state government plans to tear them down and build a new block, with funds from the Tata Group, which owns most of Air India. The anniversary stirs deep grief for both families and locals in Ahmedabad. Suresh Patni, whose son worked at a tea stall and died that day, says the pain is still fresh. He added that compensation from Tata Trusts has helped his family cope.Investigators have not yet found a clear cause for the crash, which was the deadliest aviation disaster in ten years. An early report indicated that the engine fuel controls on the Boeing 787 shifted from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ almost at once, cutting fuel to both engines shortly after takeoff for London. A cockpit recording showed the pilots discussing the issue, and U. S. officials believed the captain may have cut the fuel flow. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said it was too early to draw firm conclusions. Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, the father of the captain who died in the crash, refuted blame on his son. He noted the captain had a long, accident‑free career and asked India’s top court to order an independent investigation that looks beyond pilot actions. The event reminds everyone of the fragility of life and the importance of thorough investigations after such tragedies.