Daijiworld Media Network - Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, Jun 13: A tragic air disaster that claimed 242 lives has left the nation in mourning, with the heart-breaking story of a young couple and their three children capturing hearts across the country.

Pratik Joshi, a software professional and his wife Dr Komi Vyas, a medical professional, were en route to London to begin a new chapter in their lives when their flight—Air India AI-171—crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing all on board, including their three young children.

The family’s final moments were captured in a now widely-circulated selfie—Dr Joshi and Dr Vyas smiling across the aisle from their children, 8-year-old daughter Miraya and 5-year-old twins Nakul and Pradyut. The photo, taken just before take-off, has become a haunting symbol of a life full of promise cut brutally short.

Joshi had been living in London for six years and had laid the foundation for the family’s future there. Dr Vyas, a respected physician at Pacific Hospital in Udaipur, had resigned just two days ago to join her husband and reunite their family abroad. Friends and neighbours recall the couple as warm, progressive individuals deeply committed to their careers and children.

The crash occurred at 1:38 pm near Meghani Nagar in Ahmedabad. The aircraft, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, failed to gain altitude and crashed within 32 seconds of take-off, bursting into flames in a residential area. Preliminary reports suggest a possible engine thrust failure.

The tragedy has especially impacted Rajasthan's Banswara and Udaipur, home to several victims, including the Joshi family. Residents in both cities are grieving the loss of a family that symbolized aspiration and togetherness.

As investigations continue into the cause of the crash, the nation is left grappling with questions of aviation safety. But beyond the technical failures, it is the personal losses—like that of the Joshi-Vyas family—that underline the true cost of the disaster.