This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3e5e5lv3k3o
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Candlelit vigil held in Harrow for Air India plane crash victims | Candlelit vigil held in Harrow for Air India plane crash victims |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Twenty of the plane crash victims are thought to have worshipped at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow | Twenty of the plane crash victims are thought to have worshipped at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow |
| People attending a vigil in London to remember victims of the Air India plane crash became visibly emotional after learning that two young girls had been orphaned by the disaster. | People attending a vigil in London to remember victims of the Air India plane crash became visibly emotional after learning that two young girls had been orphaned by the disaster. |
| The multi-faith service on Saturday was held at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London, where Mayor of Harrow Anjana Patel said 20 of the victims had previously worshipped. | The multi-faith service on Saturday was held at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London, where Mayor of Harrow Anjana Patel said 20 of the victims had previously worshipped. |
| She also shared that two young girls had lost their father in the crash, just weeks after their mother had died from cancer. | She also shared that two young girls had lost their father in the crash, just weeks after their mother had died from cancer. |
| More than 240 people were killed on Thursday when a Boeing 787 bound for Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad. | |
| 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. |
| Simon Ovens, Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Harrow, and Mayor of Harrow Anjana Patel were among those at the service | Simon Ovens, Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Harrow, and Mayor of Harrow Anjana Patel were among those at the service |
| Patel told those gathered at the event that the siblings' father, Arjun Patoliya, had flown to Gujarat to scatter his wife Bharti's ashes following her death. | Patel told those gathered at the event that the siblings' father, Arjun Patoliya, had flown to Gujarat to scatter his wife Bharti's ashes following her death. |
| He was returning home to his daughters, aged four and eight, when the plane went down. | He was returning home to his daughters, aged four and eight, when the plane went down. |
| "The saddest incident we have got here in Harrow is one parent had already died here because of cancer," Patel said. | "The saddest incident we have got here in Harrow is one parent had already died here because of cancer," Patel said. |
| "The husband went to do the rituals in India and coming back, he was on board. He has left two little girls behind and the girls are now orphans. | "The husband went to do the rituals in India and coming back, he was on board. He has left two little girls behind and the girls are now orphans. |
| "I really hope that those girls will be looked after by all of us." | "I really hope that those girls will be looked after by all of us." |
| She added: "Caring is the most that we can do at this hour. | She added: "Caring is the most that we can do at this hour. |
| "We don't have any words to describe how the families and friends must be feeling, so what we can do is pray for them." | "We don't have any words to describe how the families and friends must be feeling, so what we can do is pray for them." |
| She also revealed how her sister-in-law's cousin had been killed in the crash. | She also revealed how her sister-in-law's cousin had been killed in the crash. |
| Local councillors, a local MP and residents packed into the temple for the ceremony, which included emotional tributes, candle lighting and a message of condolence from the King. | Local councillors, a local MP and residents packed into the temple for the ceremony, which included emotional tributes, candle lighting and a message of condolence from the King. |
| Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, said it was believed to be the highest number of British deaths ever recorded in a plane crash, with 53 UK nationals on board. | Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, said it was believed to be the highest number of British deaths ever recorded in a plane crash, with 53 UK nationals on board. |
| "When someone dies in illness or old age, we celebrate their lives," he said. "But when an air crash happens - completely unpredictable - people are taken away from us immediately, just like that. | "When someone dies in illness or old age, we celebrate their lives," he said. "But when an air crash happens - completely unpredictable - people are taken away from us immediately, just like that. |
| "We think of all those families sitting by the telephone, wondering if their loved ones were actually on the plane." | "We think of all those families sitting by the telephone, wondering if their loved ones were actually on the plane." |
| He said the Gujarati community in the UK was deeply affected, with victims having links to Harrow, Leicester, Birmingham and beyond. | He said the Gujarati community in the UK was deeply affected, with victims having links to Harrow, Leicester, Birmingham and beyond. |
| He added: "The difficulty the authorities have already got is: who are they visiting? Which family members were they coming to see in the UK?" | He added: "The difficulty the authorities have already got is: who are they visiting? Which family members were they coming to see in the UK?" |
| Many in the hall quietly wept as candles were lit in a multi-faith service | Many in the hall quietly wept as candles were lit in a multi-faith service |
| Councillor Hitesh Karia, who represents Pinner South ward and is a member of the temple's congregation, also shared the impact of the tragedy. | Councillor Hitesh Karia, who represents Pinner South ward and is a member of the temple's congregation, also shared the impact of the tragedy. |
| He said: "It's nice that the local community can come together - the local support means a lot. | He said: "It's nice that the local community can come together - the local support means a lot. |
| "Twenty devotees that come here have sadly lost their lives. | "Twenty devotees that come here have sadly lost their lives. |
| "It shows there is a solidarity, and despite the high amount of diversity, we can come together when appropriate." | "It shows there is a solidarity, and despite the high amount of diversity, we can come together when appropriate." |
| The vigil was led by Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who said he knew 20 of the victims personally. | The vigil was led by Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who said he knew 20 of the victims personally. |
| Many in the hall quietly wept as candles were lit by representatives from the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities. | Many in the hall quietly wept as candles were lit by representatives from the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities. |
| "The only feeling left is sadness - we can't do any more," Mr Guruji said. | "The only feeling left is sadness - we can't do any more," Mr Guruji said. |
| Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk | Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk |