**Tragic Air India Flight Crash Sends Shockwaves Through Medical Hostel Community**

Witnesses recount the horrifying moments leading up to and following the crash as a group of students and faculty deal with the aftermath.

On a seemingly ordinary Thursday afternoon, calamity struck at the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad, India, where an Air India flight, AI171, tragically went down just moments after takeoff. The 787 Dreamliner was en route to London and had 242 people on board when disaster struck, resulting in a catastrophic crash into the hostel’s canteen filled with students and medical personnel.

Around 1:39 PM local time, the atmosphere at the busy cafeteria was lively, with laughter and chatter among students savoring their meals. Suddenly, the jovial sounds were interrupted by the deafening roar of jet engines, transforming the scene into chaos as the aircraft lost altitude and plummeted into the building.

Eyewitness accounts reveal a chaotic landscape quickly filled with fear and confusion. A doctor who was within proximity described the moment as a "deafening sound outside,” initially mistaking it for thunder due to the heatwave. As the realization of a crash occurred, those nearby rushed outdoors only to confront the horrors of the situation.

Among the first responders were local brothers, Prince and Krish Patni, who were biking a short distance from the incident. As they approached the flaming wreckage, relieved no immediate threats remained, they began helping, removing debris and searching for survivors. Upon entering the canteen, the brothers encountered a daunting sight: dense smoke choking the air and injured individuals amid the wreckage.

Many students were reportedly caught off guard, having just enjoyed their lunch moments before the disaster. One survivor recounted being trapped under debris, struggling to breathe as the fire engulfed their surroundings. With confusion reigning, injured persons could do little more than remain silent, overshadowed by the horror around them.

In a community bereft of clarity, uncertainty looms over the number of casualties. Initial reports suggest at least eight were lost, with efforts still ongoing to identify victims through DNA analysis. Families are frantically searching for loved ones, with individuals like Ravi Thakur, who was delivering lunch, desperately seeking his mother among the chaos.

Academic staff at the BJ Medical College grapple with the aftermath, mourning the loss of students. The dean confirmed several fatalities among students and their families, with priority now given to those injured and receiving medical care.

As investigations into the crash develop, the profound impact of this tragedy resonates deeply within the local community, where first responders, fellow students, and faculty find themselves united in grief and concern for those affected.