Air India crash memorial to be held on anniversary

A memorial service will take place in Leicester to mark the first anniversary of the Air India plane crash.

The London-bound Flight 171 went down shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad in western India on 12 June last year.

Vishwarkumar Ramesh, from Spinney Hills, was the sole survivor of the tragedy, which claimed 260 lives.

A service organised in memory of all those who died in the tragedy, many of whom had close family connections to Leicester, will take place on 13 June at the Shree Hanuman Temple in Melton Road.

Following the crash, Air India said all passengers and crew were killed - including 169 Indian nationals and 52 British nationals - apart from Ramesh.

Footage shared at the time showed the passenger, who had been travelling in seat 11A, walking away from the aftermath with seemingly superficial injuries, as smoke billowed in the background.

He has since said he feels like the "luckiest man" alive.

The service, which will feature a recital of eleven Hanuman Chalisa - a devotional hymn - in memory of those who lost their lives and everyone affected by the tragedy, will start at 10:30 BST.

Rajesh Patel, secretary at the temple, said: "The remembrance service is an opportunity for our community to come together, pray for those who died and offer strength and compassion to bereaved families and friends.

"It continues to impact our community and the service will include prayers, recitals, the lighting of candles and time to reflect."

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