Air India plane crash: 'This one felt different', coffin maker after order for 100 units
AHMEDABAD: The morning sun had barely warmed the pavement outside Ahmedabad's civil hospital Friday when Nilesh Vaghela, 47, arrived with his truckload of 20 wooden coffins. Neatly arranged, polished to sombre perfection,& lined with care, the coffins bore no names yet, only the weight of untold stories.
For most, coffins are a symbol of finality. For Nilesh, they are acts of service. "People talk of borders and visas. But coffins don't ask for passports. They all look the same in death," he adds.
Nilesh has been in the trade for 15 years. He works with one helper, making 7 coffins a day. But following the AI-171 crash, which killed 274 people, including 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese and 1 Canadian, he received an urgent request for 100 coffins. "I had over 50 ready in stock. I regularly help send the remains of the deceased abroad, to London, the US. But this felt different," he said.
Despite the demand, he refused to hike prices or take advance payments: "This is not the time for profit."
As he returns to his workshop to prepare more, Nilesh continues doing his bit.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Mughal-era Bakshi Bandh has saved Sangam city areas from flood fury for centuries
1 2 Prayagraj: The Bakshi Bandh constructed in the last quarter of the 16th century by Sheikh Farid Bakshi has helped to keep a major part of the city safe from floods for centuries. Historians believe that the Bandh – which is around five kilometres in length and 20-feet high, has helped to keep the floodwaters from the twin rivers from entering the main city areas. "Farid was the 'Bakshi' (the name given to commandant) of Akbar's army when Akbar Fort was constructed (around 1574). It was after the construction of this Bandh that several of the localities, including Kydganj, Bahadurganj, and Muttiganj, were inhabited. However, despite being surrounded on three sides by the Ganga and Yamuna, it is this Bandh which saves the massive population from the fury of the Ganga, which intensifies after backflow of the Yamuna," said historian and former head of the department, Medieval and Modern History, at Allahabad University, Prof Yogeshwar Tiwari. The five-kilometre-long dam, stretching from the western bank near the fort to the southern end of the city at Teliyarganj, effectively holds back the seasonal floods of the Ganga and Yamuna. Today, it is often referred to as Prayagraj's 'Marine Drive'. "If we refer to the era of Ramayana, Lord Rama visited the ashram of Guru Vishwamitra, and texts mention that the Ganga used to flow next to his ashram. Today, the same river flows two kilometres away from the same ashram—the other side of the Bandh," explains Prof Tiwari. The entire area, stretching from Bhardwaj Ashram to Sangam, was a religious place, and all the business and trade hub was at Kaushambi and Jhunsi side, added the historian. "It was when Akbar thought of building the fort to control the Eastern provinces, which often stood against him, that Farid decided to build the Bandh. Since he was at the post of Bakshi, the dam derived its present name," said Prof Tiwari. The embankment's presence allowed safe reclamation of dry land, upon which some of the city's earliest neighbourhoods were established. These areas served as residences for Akbar's officers and military personnel, solidifying the city's strategic and administrative importance. Looking closely, the city is divided into two parts: the old city or Prayag, located northwest along the Ganga's elevated banks, and the newer parts developed under the Mughal influence. Prayag houses ancient neighbourhoods like Daraganj, Katra, and Teliyarganj, known for their high altitude and religious significance, especially the ghats such as Rasulabad, Shankar, Phaphamau and Daraganj ghats, where cremations continue to take place due to sacred status of the Ganga. Following the Mughal period, the British administration enhanced Prayagraj's beauty and organisation by developing the Civil Lines area, giving the city a structured and grand appearance. Since then, the city has mostly seen minor upgrades, including the recent smart city status, but none as crucial as the Bakshi Bandh.
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
House of Muthulakshmi Reddy, India's first woman medicine graduate, in a dilapidated state
Sitting among large tamarind trees and mounds of clay is a run down building on Besant Avenue in Adyar in which Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, the first woman from India to graduate in medicine and the force behind the founding of the Cancer Institute (W.I.A.) Adyar, lived for over 30 years form 1936. The land on which it sits belongs to the Tiruvannamalai Sri Arunachaleswarar temple. The land had no compound wall or security for such a large place, and when this reporter visited the place, someone was plucking tamarind from a tree. 'Water stagnates during rain and the place is infested with insects and snakes. There have been incidents of men hiding among the trees. It should be cleaned and steps should be taken to provide some lighting,' said Ananth, a local resident. V. R. Devika, who has written a book on Dr. Reddy, said the doctor was the first woman legislator in British India. She took land from the Arunachaleswarar temple on lease to build the Avvai Home and another piece of land adjacent to it from the temple to build a home for her family. So many girls who studied in the home have gone into become nurses and teachers. 'In 1942, when some soldiers who had camped near the Adyar River tried to harass the girls, she stood vigil with a big stick in her hand. She then went to the local British commandant and told him she will hold him responsible if something happens to the girls. The house urgently needs repairs and maintenance,' she said. Senior advocate N.L. Rajah explained that Justice M. Dhandapani 'was kind enough to grant the prayer of the Avvai Home for Girls and the Cancer Institute (W.I.A.), Adyar' to maintain the house in which Dr. Reddy resided on land belonging to the temple and has already been handed over to them. The works will be taken up using funds from the Institute. Temple and heritage enthusiast Padmapriya Baskaran said that the house could be restored into a memorial as a testimony for Dr. Reddy's service to girls and women. It is August, and with Madras Day nearing, it would be great if the restoration is taken up soon, she added. Sources in the Avvai Home and Institute said they were ready to take up the renovation of the building. 'We need access to the structure. We have written to the temple authorities seeking permission. Once that is obtained, we can go ahead with the work. We would like to put the building to good use. Maybe have a free dispensary, a library, or provide some kind of training for women.' Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments P.K. Sekarbabu assured that he would inspect the site soon. 'The government headed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has taken steps to safeguard lakhs of acres of lands belonging to temples. This land will be put to proper use,' he said.
Economic Times
5 hours ago
- Economic Times
Earthquake shakes New Jersey near NYC: USGS confirms 2.7 magnitude quake
Synopsis A minor earthquake occurred in New Jersey near Hillsdale, as per the US Geological Survey. The magnitude was 2.7. This event follows another recent quake in the NYC metro area. Earthquakes are not unusual in the New York region. These happen every few years. East Coast quakes are felt across larger areas. AP Epicenter of 2.7 Magnitude Earthquake Near Hillsdale, NJ on Aug 5, 2025 — 25 Miles from NYC, Says USGS A small earthquake hit New Jersey on Tuesday just after noon — at exactly 12:11 p.m. ET, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake had a magnitude of 2.7 and happened about 7.7 miles deep, near Hillsdale, New Jersey, which is 25 miles from Midtown exact spot was traced to Viola Terrace in Westwood, based on the USGS's latitude and longitude data. People in the area were surprised, with one user on X writing: "Why did my building just shake again?" Bergen County's Office of Emergency Management is checking for any damage, but as of now, no damage has been reported. This latest quake comes only a few days after a 3.0 magnitude earthquake hit the NYC metro area on Saturday night, reported by the Associated Press. The Saturday quake was felt all across NYC and even reached up to Connecticut, but there were no injuries or serious damage, as per the report by Fox5. ALSO READ: Trump climbs White House roof, yells at reporters in bizarre press conference — internet erupts in chaos NYC officials said that by Sunday morning, there were no building-related emergencies reported — even though New York has over 1 million buildings. After Saturday's quake, the USGS got over 10,000 reports from people on its "Did You Feel It?" website. Earthquakes in the New York area are not rare — they happen every couple of years, according to USGS history data. The New York - Philadelphia - Wilmington urban zone sees small earthquakes regularly, and moderate ones about twice every 100 years — with major quakes recorded in 1737 and 1884, as stated by the Fox5 report. Since 1950, there have been 43 earthquakes of similar size (to this week's) within 155 miles of the epicenter. East Coast earthquakes are felt over much larger areas than West Coast ones. For example , a 4.0 quake can be felt 100 km away and a 5.5 quake can be felt up to 500 km away. ALSO READ: Bill and Hillary Clinton subpoenaed in Epstein case bombshell — what could they be forced to reveal? Recent examples, in April 2024, a 4.8 magnitude quake in Tewksbury, NJ, was felt as far as Boston and Baltimore. In January 2024, a 1.7 quake in Astoria, Queens, was felt locally but caused no the San Andreas Fault in California, East Coast quakes aren't usually tied to famous fault lines. That's because they're far from tectonic plate boundaries and are caused by hidden underground faults, say USGS scientists, as mentioned in the report by Fox5. Q1. Was there an earthquake in New Jersey today near NYC? Yes, a 2.7 magnitude earthquake hit near Hillsdale, New Jersey, at 12:11 p.m. ET on Tuesday, according to the USGS. Q2. How often do earthquakes happen in New York and New Jersey? Small earthquakes hit the NYC area every few years, and moderate ones happen about twice every 100 years, says the USGS.
