She Was In The Hostel Mess With Her Granddaughter — Then The Plane Hit

Following the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, the desperate search continues for Sharlaben Thakor and her two-year-old granddaughter, Adhya. The two were inside the hostel mess at BJ Medical College, where Sharlaben worked as a cook, when the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into the building shortly after takeoff. The crash claimed 241 lives out of 242 on board, with only one survivor.

Sharlaben's son, Ravi Thakor, had been out delivering tiffin boxes at the Civil Hospital when the tragedy occurred. When he returned, he found the canteen area-where his mother and daughter had been-completely destroyed and engulfed in flames.

Since the crash, Ravi and his family have been frantically searching through the wreckage, hoping for any sign of their loved ones. They have also submitted DNA samples to assist with the identification process, as authorities continue recovery and forensic efforts.

The Thakor family has been told they may have to wait up to 72 hours for official updates. Expressing the family's anguish, Ravi's sister, Payal, said, "We are unable to find them; still, we have been asked to wait for 72 hours. We have been running pillar to post in search of them, but all in vain."

As rescue workers and medical teams continue their efforts to identify the victims, the Thakor family's ordeal underscores the deep human sorrow and agonizing uncertainty experienced by many families still awaiting answers in the aftermath of the crash.