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| Newly engaged couple in Leicester among Air India crash victims | |
| (2 days later) | |
| Tributes have been paid to the couple, who celebrated their engagement in India | |
| A couple who went to India to celebrate their engagement have been named among the victims of the Air India plane crash. | A couple who went to India to celebrate their engagement have been named among the victims of the Air India plane crash. |
| More than 240 people were killed on Thursday when a Boeing 787 bound for Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad. | More than 240 people were killed on Thursday when a Boeing 787 bound for Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad. |
| Prayers have been taking place at the Shree Hanuman Temple in Leicester to remember the victims, including engaged couple Hardik Avaiya and Vibhooti Patel. | Prayers have been taking place at the Shree Hanuman Temple in Leicester to remember the victims, including engaged couple Hardik Avaiya and Vibhooti Patel. |
| Friends of the couple were among those paying their respects, with one saying "Hardik was like my small brother, and Vibhooti was like my small sister". | Friends of the couple were among those paying their respects, with one saying "Hardik was like my small brother, and Vibhooti was like my small sister". |
| The plane was carrying 242 people when it crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, in western India. | The plane was carrying 242 people when it crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, in western India. |
| There were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on the flight. | There were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on the flight. |
| Large numbers of people came to the temple to pay their respects | Large numbers of people came to the temple to pay their respects |
| The Leicester temple held a hymn festival to pray for all victims and come to terms with the tragedy. | The Leicester temple held a hymn festival to pray for all victims and come to terms with the tragedy. |
| Friends of the couple said Ms Patel was a physiotherapist, while Mr Avaiya worked in a warehouse. | |
| Mr Avaiya was described by the Melton Road temple's secretary as a "model devotee and volunteer". | Mr Avaiya was described by the Melton Road temple's secretary as a "model devotee and volunteer". |
| Dhaval Patel, who worked with Mr Avaiya, said: "We were on our way to pick him up when I got a call to say a plane to Gatwick had crashed in Ahmedabad. | Dhaval Patel, who worked with Mr Avaiya, said: "We were on our way to pick him up when I got a call to say a plane to Gatwick had crashed in Ahmedabad. |
| "So we immediately checked the ticket and matched the flight number and we just cried." | "So we immediately checked the ticket and matched the flight number and we just cried." |
| Staff said Mr Avaiya attended a couple of times a week to help with events at the temple. | Staff said Mr Avaiya attended a couple of times a week to help with events at the temple. |
| Mr Patel said: "He didn't like the limelight, he just worked in the background to get things done. | Mr Patel said: "He didn't like the limelight, he just worked in the background to get things done. |
| "He was jovial, liked to crack a joke. He was dedicated, hard working, very pleasant. | "He was jovial, liked to crack a joke. He was dedicated, hard working, very pleasant. |
| "He was model devotee and volunteer because he had selfless service. | |
| "When he left he asked the staff if the temple needed anything bringing back, that's the kind of person he was." | "When he left he asked the staff if the temple needed anything bringing back, that's the kind of person he was." |
| While the staff at the temple heard about the crash early on, news of the casualties only came through afterwards and confirmation came from Mr Avaiya's friends. | While the staff at the temple heard about the crash early on, news of the casualties only came through afterwards and confirmation came from Mr Avaiya's friends. |
| Mr Patel said: "We were absolutely devastated, it's like losing a family member. | |
| "Events like this - people come together and give their respects and it gives us some sort of a release from the feeling of shock and feeling distraught. | |
| "It's a feeling of helplessness, emptiness, normally if something goes wrong, we can sort things out but this has been very difficult." | "It's a feeling of helplessness, emptiness, normally if something goes wrong, we can sort things out but this has been very difficult." |
| Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. | Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. |