In the midst of one of India’s most tragic aviation disasters, where 241 passengers and 29 others lost their lives, a single ray of hope has emerged — Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, a British national and the sole survivor of the Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad.
Escaped the Wreckage: “I Unbuckled the Seatbelt and Crawled Out”
Speaking to the media from his hospital bed, Ramesh recounted the harrowing moments of survival. He described how the aircraft began to shudder shortly after takeoff, giving passengers an eerie sense that something was terribly wrong. Seconds later, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into the hostel building of a nearby medical college.
Ramesh’s portion of the cabin landed on the hostel’s ground floor. He managed to free himself by unfastening his seatbelt and squeezing through a shattered door, narrowly escaping flames, debris, and chaos. Tragically, his brother, who was also on board, did not survive — a fact Ramesh is still struggling to come to terms with.
Immediately after the crash, Ramesh made a video call to his father to tell him he was alive, though he couldn’t locate his brother at the time.
Medical Condition Stable, Discharge in 2–3 Days
According to doctors, Ramesh is now out of danger and is expected to be discharged from the hospital within the next two to three days. His recovery is progressing steadily under close medical supervision.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally visited Ramesh in the hospital, commended his courage, and assured him of full support from the Indian government.
Hospital Briefs Media, DNA Matches Underway
At a press conference earlier today, hospital officials provided updates on the identification and handing over of remains. So far, DNA matches have been confirmed for 11 victims, and one body has been formally handed over to the family. Two more are expected to be released by late tonight.
230 Relief Teams Mobilized, British Families to Arrive
In response to the scale of the tragedy, the Gujarat administration has deployed 230 dedicated relief teams to coordinate with the families of victims. These teams are actively reaching out to each family, facilitating the body identification process, and assisting with logistics.
Several families from the UK are expected to arrive in Ahmedabad within the next two days to claim the bodies of their loved ones and participate in final rites.
ICU Holds Only a Few, Most Injured Now Discharged
Hospital sources also confirmed that most of the injured passengers and locals have been treated and discharged. Currently, only 2–3 individuals remain in ICU, with doctors closely monitoring their condition.
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