The sole survivor of the Air India crash that killed 241 people has described feeling like the “luckiest man alive” while struggling to cope with the immense physical and emotional toll of the tragedy.
Viswashkumar Ramesh escaped the wreckage of the London-bound flight after it went down in Ahmedabad in June. His miraculous survival drew global attention after footage showed him walking away from the burning Boeing 787 with minor visible injuries. Yet behind the image of survival lies profound grief and trauma.
Mr Ramesh, 39, lost his younger brother Ajay, who was seated a few rows away on the same flight. Speaking to BBC News, he said he still finds it hard to accept that he survived when his brother did not. “I lost my brother as well. My brother is my backbone,” he said, visibly emotional.
Since returning to his home in Leicester, Mr Ramesh has battled post-traumatic stress disorder and has withdrawn from family life. “Now I just sit alone in my room, not talking with my wife or my son. Every day is painful for the whole family,” he said. His mother, he added, has been deeply affected, sitting outside their home every day in silence.
The crash killed 241 people including 169 Indian nationals, 52 Britons, and 19 others on the ground. A preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found that fuel supply to the engines was cut off seconds after take-off. An investigation is still under way.
Mr Ramesh has also faced ongoing physical pain from leg, shoulder, knee, and back injuries. He cannot work or drive and relies on his wife for assistance. His advisers say he has not received any medical treatment since returning to the UK and accuse Air India of neglecting his welfare.
Community leader Sanjiv Patel, who is supporting the family, said they are in crisis. “This has devastated his family. Whoever is responsible should be meeting the victims and understanding their needs,” he said.
Air India has paid Mr Ramesh interim compensation of £21,500, but his advisers, including spokesman Radd Seiger, say it is insufficient. They have repeatedly sought meetings with airline executives but claim their requests were ignored.
In a statement, Air India said senior leaders from parent company Tata Group continue to visit affected families and have offered to meet Mr Ramesh’s representatives.
Original reporting by BBC News.
