In a moving tribute, 270 saplings were planted in Madurai, Tamil Nadu in memory of those who lost their lives in the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad. The crash, which occurred shortly after take-off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, claimed the lives of 241 of the 242 passengers and crew members on board, along with 29 others on the ground, including five MBBS students.
The plantation drive was led by Cholan Gubendran, a local engineer known for his environmental efforts and for planting over one lakh saplings. Volunteers from the district joined the initiative, planting each sapling as a mark of respect for the victims of what has become one of the most devastating air disasters in India.
Cholan Gubendran said the act was a way to symbolically resurrect those who died in the crash. “This is our offering. I believe their memory will live through these trees, which will provide oxygen and life to others,” he said.
The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was bound for London’s Gatwick Airport when it went down inside the Medical College campus in Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad. The crash resulted in a massive fire, reducing the aircraft to debris. Amongst those on board were 230 passengers, two pilots and ten crew members. One British national of Indian origin miraculously survived and is currently undergoing treatment.
This incident is the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 since the aircraft entered commercial service in 2011. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) recovered the black box 28 hours after the crash. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that the device, found near the tail section of the aircraft, will be critical in determining the cause of the tragedy.
As investigators work to uncover the reasons behind the crash, the saplings in Madurai now stand as living reminders of the lives lost, offering a measure of peace and hope through nature.
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