After granting his late wife’s last request, a distraught father was returning home to his kids when he perished in a terrible plane crash in India.

When tragedy struck, Arjun Patolia, a father of two from the UK, had just buried his wife Bharatiben’s ashes in Gujarat’s revered Narmada River.

Shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, Air India flight AI-171 crashed, killing him and other passengers on board as they made their way back to London.

Bharatiben, Arjun’s wife, had died in London only a week prior. Her last wish was to have her ashes sent back to India, where she was born. Arjun fulfilled that desire by going to her village by herself to perform the customary ceremonies.

He was returning to the UK to be with their daughters, who were four and eight years old, after finishing the tearful rituals with family. In just one heartbreaking week, the two girls are now left orphaned.

In Hinduism, the Narmada River, where Arjun conducted the rites, has profound spiritual significance. Ash immersion in its waters is thought by many to cleanse the soul and bring serenity to the deceased.

53 British nationals were among the 242 passengers on the Gatwick-bound flight. It crashed shortly after takeoff, killing Arjun and several others.

The Tata Group-owned airline Air India acknowledged the incident and promised to compensate the families of the victims financially. Each family will receive ₹96 lakh, or roughly 116,139 US dollars, as part of the support package, according to official statements.

We are deeply anguished by the tragic event involving Air India Flight 171.

No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones, and with those who have been injured.

Tata Group will…

— Tata Group (@TataCompanies) June 12, 2025

Anger over what many believe to be a poor response to a preventable tragedy has been reflected in the public’s quick and emotional response to the tragedy.

“Is that all you value a life for?” a user on X asked. Only one crore? Do you believe that having money will improve things? [sic].

“Your apology means nothing,” said another. Only because of you, Tata, can the families who lost their loved ones return. Verify each aircraft thoroughly before allowing it to take off. [sic].

The payout was deemed inadequate by many. Oh, so a human life is now worth one crore rupees? That’s your math for a billion-dollar business empire? “Amazing assessment of grief,” a user inquired.

Legal compliance was questioned by others: “But according to Montreal convention, they should pay victim families 1.5cr+. Why are they offering less? [sic]

“Keep your one cr with you. It’s not equal to lives lost [sic],” another person added. Some were worried about the crash survivors, while many concentrated on the lives of the deceased. Furthermore, what about the survivor? Just medical bills? [sic]” a user inquired.

Others pointed out that many of the passengers were wealthy, stating that “1 cr is not a big amount for most people who were on that flight,” and that no sum could ever replace a life. The majority of them had the financial means to travel and reside there. To be honest, when it comes to a life, money is insufficient.

Nevertheless, a few messages conveyed the current sadness amidst the outrage: “Respect 🙏”

On the same doomed flight, another family was split apart; two brothers were seated only feet apart, but only one survived.

After completing their business trip in India, 35-year-old Ajaykumar Ramesh and his 40-year-old brother Viswash were heading back to the UK. Unaware of the impending tragedy, they boarded Air India’s Ahmedabad to Gatwick flight on Thursday. They sat down, Viswash across the aisle in 11A, close to the emergency exit, and Ajay in 11J.

Then there was a crash.

Viswash survived what investigators now refer to as a catastrophic crash while seated in 11A close to the emergency exit. As the cabin was engulfed in flames, his brother Ajay, who was seated in seat 11J just across the aisle, did not. Bloodied and dazed, Viswash was hauled from the ruins.

Viswash, who is currently in a hospital in India, keeps saying the same eerie request: “Find Ajay, you must find Ajay.”

Their family is torn between grief and incredulity back in Leicester. Their mother, too upset to talk, is surrounded by family members who are consoling her. Nayankumar, their youngest brother, spoke of the bizarre moment they got the call.

“That at least one of them survived is a miracle,” he said. He claimed he couldn’t find anyone after his plane crashed. We were incredulous. Blood was streaming down his cheeks.

Viswash’s injuries are seen in pictures taken at the Indian hospital. Desperate for answers, the family is getting ready to board a plane, according to Nayankumar. Ajay’s phone continues to ring, but nobody answers, he added.

Late Thursday night, Air India confirmed the sobering fact that only one of the 242 passengers on flight AI171 survived. Viswash was the only one who survived. Among them was Ajaykumar.

The family held onto hope for hours. They thought that Ajay’s name might have been overlooked in the confusion when he was hurried to another hospital.

Although they were “so confused,” Nayankumar had earlier expressed hope that his brother had survived. Nayankumar gestured to their mother, Manibai Ramesh, when asked how the family was handling the situation, which involved one brother living while another died. Her sobs filled the silence, but she was too overwhelmed to talk.

That is your response, he said. “We just don’t understand.” “It’s a miracle at least one of them survived,” he said, acknowledging the cruel duality of the situation despite the heartbreak.

Viswash and Ajaykumar had visited India on business related to their family’s businesses. Previously, Viswash was the director of RMV Fashion, a textile company based in Leicester that shut down in 2022.

When Viswash called home, the first indications of life appeared. He informed family members that he had escaped the burning plane and was hurt but unharmed. Although the call was a relief, it also made Ajay even more terrified, and he never called.

His suffering was echoed by their cousin, Ajay Valgi, who is also from Leicester. He referred to Ajaykumar as one of his best friends in addition to being a cousin. He claimed that they were seated next to one another. “But what happened to Ajay is unknown to us.” The family continues to be in shock. He went on, “We’re not doing well.” “Everyone is upset.”

As we previously reported, Air India Flight AI-171 crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon, June 12, 2025, in Ahmedabad, leaving the nation in shock and grief. While traveling to London Gatwick, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which was carrying 242 passengers and crew members, unexpectedly ran into problems.