Written by Lisa Murimi
In the wake of the devastating Air India crash that claimed 260 lives last month, fresh pain has surfaced for the families left behind.
Miten Patel, whose parents Ashok and Shobhana Patel were among the victims, says the grief of losing them has been compounded by a disturbing discovery: mixed remains were found in his mother’s casket.
Speaking to the BBC, Miten revealed the coroner identified body parts that did not belong to his mother.
“It’s obviously very upsetting,” he said, his voice heavy with sorrow. “How do I know there aren’t other remains in the casket with her?”
Ashok and Shobhana were on their way back to the UK to see their grandchildren when the plane went down shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
They were among the first to be repatriated. But instead of closure, Miten was left with haunting questions.
Reports from the Daily Mail allege multiple families have received the wrong bodies or caskets containing remains from several individuals.
Miten is trying to understand how such errors could happen in a tragedy already too painful to bear.
“People were tired, there was pressure,” he said. “But there must be accountability. You can’t just get it wrong with something this sacred.”
India’s foreign ministry responded, stating that all remains were handled with “utmost professionalism” and that they are working with UK officials to resolve concerns.
“In the wake of the tragic crash, the concerned authorities had carried out identification of victims as per established protocols and technical requirements.
“All mortal remains were handled with utmost professionalism and with due regard for the dignity of the deceased.
“We are continuing to work with the UK authorities on addressing any concerns related to this issue.”
As questions mount, many families now face a new tragedy: the fear that even in death, their loved ones were not given the dignity they deserved.
