Air India Ahmedabad plane crash: 10 minutes separated life and death for Gujarat woman heading to London
Chauhan said she missed boarding the AI 171 flight to London, which crashed soon after taking-off on Thursday afternoon from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, by just 10 minutes.
Air India Ahmedabad plane crash LIVE updates
She is visiting her hometown Ahmedabad for the first time after moving to the UK two years ago.
"I am shivering after I learnt about the crash. I left the airport at 1.30pm as I missed the flight due to traffic. I thank God," Chauhan told PTI Videos.
She said she was in India for vacation after moving to the U.K. on a study visa and scheduled to go back to London on the flight. The AI 171 flight took off at 1.39 pm and crashed into a medical college complex near the Ahmedabad airport and burst into a ball of fire less than a minute after take-off, leaving just one survivor.
"The flight was on time and I missed it by 10 minutes and I thank God. My prayers for all those who were on board," she said.
Chauhan, who was travelling alone, said she got delayed because of traffic and by the time she reached the airport, boarding and check-in for the flight had closed.
"I requested (to airport authorities) that I be let in. I was the last passenger. But my request was not accepted. This is a miracle. Mataji and Ganpati bappa protected me. I am terrified at the loss of lives. I am totally numb," she said.
Chauhan said she learnt about the tragedy, which claimed 265 lives (including passengers and on ground deaths), when she was going back home from the airport.
According to Air India, of the 230 passengers on the flight, 169 were Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. The other 12 people on board were two pilots and 10 crew members.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
North Kerala: Through time, taste and tranquility
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated July 14, 2025)It all begins, as it often does in Kerala, with people around a table, conversation and food. At Hotel Jineesh, a small, bare-bones eatery in Chaliyam, my order arrives on a steel plate filled to the brim and placed on a rough-hewn, wooden table. Three men, already seated, see mid-chat that there's no room elsewhere, and wave us over to settle next to them. I slide my plastic stool forward to this Malabar classic: kallumakkaya—freshly harvested mussels simmering in a light gravy mix of its own juices, coconut slivers and fragrant spices—and a thick slice of pathri, a golden-fried, rice-flour roundel. I dig in as a fresh batch of batter-fried bananas are carried out by a sari-clad woman, whose face brightens into a smile as hungry locals trickle in, eager to start the day If Kerala's south were a monsoon downpour, the north would be its petrichor. Unlike its well-publicised southern sibling, North Kerala remains largely untouched by the stampede of mass tourism, inviting you in with the promise of raw landscapes, languid rhythms and a storied LAND OF LEGENDS It's a warm, sticky June morning, and I am on the hunt for some of those stories with Rajeesh Raghavan, a travel professional and local-history expert, who is guiding me through Kozhikode. Within minutes into our half-hour drive to the city, he recounts tales from Kozhikode's long and complex past. Along the way, he points to landmarks that reflect its continued presence—a century-old British-built iron bridge still in daily use; the Commonwealth Tile Factory in Feroke, built in 1864, and still operating; the Wadiaji Parsi Anjuman Baug, an 18th-century fire temple, managed and maintained by the Marshalls, a four-member family that is all that remains of Kozhikode's once significant Parsi community. OPEN TO THE FAITHFUL: The 14th century Mishkal mosque in Kozhikode Two centuries before their arrival, Vasco da Gama reached India by sea in 1498 and opened up trade with Europe, bypassing overland Arab routes. His landing point on Kappad beach, 30 minutes away, is a popular tourist spot. The Portuguese explorer was warmly welcomed by the Zamorins, the erstwhile rulers of Kozhikode, whose keen nose for business turned the city into a major spice and silk Zamorin of Calicut once ruled these streets. Today, their palace is a hospital and the throne room a maternity ward, but their impact is still felt, not least in the city's modern marketplaces. Valiyangadi Market, once the bustling heart of the city's spice and grain trade, remains active today with wholesale dealers in rice, areca nut, and coconut oil. Silk Street, and SM Street (Sweet Meat Street), one of the city's oldest commercial roads, are busy retail hubs where traditional halwa stalls sit comfortably beside mobile stores and branded outlets.I sample a variety of the famous 'sweet meat' that gives the street its name at the 92-year-old Shankaran Bakery. 'Our halwa is originally an Arabian delicacy,' Rajeesh says, as I am handed a slice from the jewel-like, soft, candied bricks made of refined flour, sugar, and oil or ghee. My visit coincides with Eid al-Adha, so the shopping hub is deserted: today is all about prayer, family and feasts. In Kozhikode, faith doesn't stand apart—it leans in, like neighbours over a shared wall. The 600-year-old Thali Temple, the 700-year-old Mishkal Mosque, once charred by the Portuguese in 1510, and then rebuilt, ('with wood from the Zamorin's own fort,' Rajeesh notes), and the Mother of God cathedral, built on land gifted by the same Hindu ruler, are all a stone's throw away from each we head to Paragon, the city's iconic restaurant, known for their impeccable food, Sunday lunch crowds and must-have tender-coconut custard, Rajeesh advises caution: 'Famous personalities are snuck in through the back,' he says with a smile, 'We'll have to wait.' Indeed, the place is packed, despite it being a holiday, so we grab our custards and savour spicy prawn fry, Malabar biryani, and a raw mango-and-mint mocktail at Adaminte Chayakada (Adam's Tea Shop). Between bites, Rajeesh tells me about a vegetarian crocodile named Babiya in Kasaragod who, until his recent demise, lived in a temple pond and ate prasadam. You just can't make this up. But in 'city of truth' Kozhikode, you don't have TO THE HIGHLANDSMy ride to Wayanad curves north-eastward into forested hills, where hairpin bends and misty slopes make for a scenic drive. The sun hangs low as our wheels roll into the lush haven that is Pepper Trail estate. Set deep within a former colonial plantation, Pepper Trail feels less like a resort and more like a secret camp. The woodpecker tree house in the pepper trail estate The bedroom in the tree house Over breakfast in the main pavilion, I meet owner Anand Jayan, whose grandfather P. Balram Kurup bought the 200-acre coffee, spice and tea estate in 1932 from a Scotsman. Anand's is the hand behind the retreat's thoughtful, sustainable and immersive soul. Perfectly balancing the wilderness experience with elevated comfort, the 150-year-old two-suite colonial bungalow with its back-to-roots aesthetic delivers on its promise of nostalgia. Two treehouses, built 40 feet high on sturdy jackfruit trees, feel like something out of a fantasy fiction film, and the rooms themselves, while arboreal, make no compromises on either space or the high-end feel. For the more down-to-earth, the villas boast grande-sized quarters, a front garden, and a forest-facing private infinity An infinity pool at the resort overlooking the beach At Wayanad, there's something for everyone: its wildlife sanctuary has birdwatching and safaris, while Soochipara and Meenmutty waterfalls are magnificent after the rains. Further west, Banasura Sagar Dam, Asia's largest earthen dam, tempts with boat rides and viewpoints. Thrill-seekers can hike to Chembra Peak, climb up to the Edakkal Caves where stone-age petroglyphs line the walls, or go zip-lining. History buffs will find the Wayanad Heritage Museum an unassuming gem while retail-hounds can peruse the local markets at Sultan Bathery just 20 minutes hard to imagine a more perfect getaway, but the forces of nature tend to follow a different policy from 'customer is king'. North Kerala tourism faced a trifecta of setbacks with Covid-19, the 2024 floods and recent landslides. Though the tragedy struck a limited geography, the entire district's tourism bookings collapsed. Since then, however, recovery efforts spell hope. Altaf Chapri, who runs Neeleshwar Hermitage, my next and final stop in North Kerala, is enthused by the boom: 'Southern Kerala has overgrown. Concrete, crowds but here, the beaches still breathe. Between on-season swimming, dolphins and migratory birds in the winter, backwaters and treks, or restorative wellness therapies—northern Kerala has it all,' he BY THE SEAFrom the highlands to the Arabian Sea, I roll into Neeleshwar Hermitage where I am welcomed into 12 acres of a dream-like sprawl on which 18 standalone cottages wait invitingly for weary heads. I walk into my sea-facing room, built in the traditional style but with plush comforts, a plunge pool and porch sit-outs. Though fresh off a five-hour drive, I find it hard to stop myself from leaving my bags and trotting across the measly 200 metres of pathways that cut through grass, on to the unspoiled Ozhinhavalappu beach, and right into the and rejuvenation form the pillars of the Hermitage's credo: the Priya Spa offers holistic treatments based on consultations with the inhouse Ayurveda practitioner, while the dawn echoes with expert-led pranayam and asanas at the seaside yoga centre. Meals are served in open restaurants flooded with ocean breeze. Sustainability flows through every detail—from composting to no-plastic policies and thoughtfully sourced cuisine. A bountiful thali at the restaurant of Neeleshwar Hermitage The houseboat Lotus on a cruise The highlight, however, is a sojourn aboard The Lotus—the retreat's 100-foot houseboat—for one- to two-night journeys through rabble-free backwaters. And then there is the transformative experience of witnessing Theyyam—a ritual dance form native to North Kerala. Rooted in the worship of ancestral and local deities, Theyyam is both an act of devotion and resistance. For centuries, it has been performed by members of lower castes who, during these rituals, embody the spirit of divine figures. I find the paradox striking: a Brahmin priest bowing before a Dalit man possessed by the spirit of the divine Muthappan. In that fire-lit moment, caste, class and creed collapse into shared Kerala rewards the slow traveller with stories that unfold gently, landscapes that linger, and moments that stay long after you've to India Today Magazine- Ends
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Forest dept draws up master plan for Kappatagudda ecotourism
Pic: A view of the scenic Kappatagudda area Gadag: Following the final notification declaring a 423.7 sq km area around Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary as an eco sensitive zone by the Union ministry of environment, forest, and climate change, the state forest department has drawn up an Rs 18.3 crore tourism development master plan. Santosh Kumar Kenchappanavar, deputy conservator of forests, Gadag division, told TOI that the tourism department requested the forest department to submit a detailed project report on eco-tourism development under its 'One District One Destination' initiative in the hills. "We ensured compliance with wildlife norms and ensured that the habitat and movement of wild animals are not affected. We classified areas into A, B and C sites. Now we are waiting for the approval of the plan from the tourism department," he stated. Ashok Mandali, chairman of the Gadag taluk's Five Guarantees Schemes Implementation Authority, said: "The govt announced in the previous budget that it will encourage eco-tourism in Kappatagudda hills, which is an iconic identity of Gadag district. The tourism department will allocate grants on a priority basis." Sources in the forest department said site A is meant for the entrance, information centre, trekking paths, medicinal plants, viewpoints and adventure sports. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ukraine: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo "Site B is proposed for a wildlife and nature information centre, medicinal plants' gardens displaying scientific information on plants and facilities for medicinal plants experts. Nature camps, accommodation, a star-gazing tower, and other facilities are proposed in site C," they added. However, Shivakumara Swamiji of Nandiveri Mutt, located in Kappatagudda, said more human intervention leads to deforestation. "There is a need for eco-sensitive tourism. If tourists continue their habit of throwing plastic, destroying plants, and disturbing the habitat and movement of wild animals, the Kappatagudda hills may be polluted. Currently, weeds like lantana and parthenium are growing rapidly in the hills. The boundary of 80,000 acres was fixed by the British in 1890 itself, and there is a need to identify it. The govt has the responsibility of conserving the herbal heritage and habitat of Lambani tandas. Hence, a public hearing should be conducted before taking up any such major developmental works," he said.
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
PM Modi Conferred With Trinidad And Tobago's Highest Civilian Honour
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Friday conferred with 'The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago' - the country's highest civilian honour. Modi, who is on a two-day visit to the Caribbean island nation on the second leg of his five-nation tour, was bestowed the award in recognition of his global leadership, his deep engagement with the Indian diaspora, and his humanitarian efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic. "Honoured to be conferred with 'The Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago'. I accept it on behalf of 140 crore Indians," Modi said. The award was announced by Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Thursday, who described Modi's visit as a moment of shared pride and historical connection. This is Modi's first visit to the country as prime minister and the first Indian bilateral visit at the prime ministerial level to Trinidad and Tobago since 1999. Modi arrived here from Ghana, where he was conferred with 'The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana', the country's national honour. The award was conferred on the prime minister in recognition of his "distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership", the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
