Jaipur, June 13, 2025.
In what should have been the beginning of new lives turned into an irreparable loss for several families from Udaipur and Banswara on Thursday, as an Air India plane bound for London Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad. Among the deceased were five members of a family from Banswara, including a doctor couple and their three young children, all of whom were embarking on a new chapter in their lives.
The dreams of a complete life in London for Dr Prateek Joshi, his wife Dr Komi Vyas, and their children—daughter Miraya and twin sons Pradyut and Nakul—came to a tragic end in the horrifying Air India plane crash.
The family from Banswara was heading to London to start a new chapter—a life they planned for years and were just hours away from living. Dr Joshi, a medical professional, lived in London for over three years, initially going there for higher studies. He soon established himself and decided to reunite his family abroad.
Dr Komi Vyas, a well-respected doctor at Pacific Medical College and Hospital at Umarda in Udaipur, recently resigned from her post, eager to join her husband and begin a new life overseas. The children, bright and promising, were pursuing their education in Udaipur. It was supposed to be a joyful transition for a family bound by love and ambition.
Ashish Agarwal, chairman of Pacific Hospital, shared that Dr Koni had joyfully discussed her plans with colleagues just two days ago. The hospital community is now mourning the loss of a dedicated doctor who touched many lives.
“Prateek came a month ago—full of excitement, full of plans. They went shopping together across Udaipur, choosing everything with the vision of raising their children in London,” said Lokesh Shukla, a close family friend and neighbour from their native city, Banswara. Both were natives of Banswara.
Back in Mohan Colony, Banswara, where the family once lived, the atmosphere turned unbearably heavy with grief. Located near Gali No 4, opposite the residence of the district collector, their home became a gathering point for shocked residents. As news of the crash spread, locals rushed in, many in tears, unable to process the suddenness of the loss. Shops in the area were closed in solidarity and sorrow.
Dr Joshi’s father, JP Joshi, runs a sonography centre in Udaipur, and his mother Dr Anita Joshi also served in the medical profession. The family was widely admired—not just for their success—but for their humility, warmth and deeply rooted values. Close family members like Hemant Joshi and Madhukar Joshi remain in a state of shock, unable to speak. “This was a healthy, happy, deeply rooted family,” said a grieving neighbour. “The loss is beyond words.”
In another part of Udaipur, the Modi family’s home in Saheli Nagar turned into a house of mourning. Siblings Shubh and Shagun Modi, successful MBA graduates helping manage their father’s marble business, were embarking on what was meant to be a pleasant holiday to the UK. Their grandmother’s call from Ahmedabad with news of the crash sent their parents rushing to the city, leaving behind a community in shock.
The tragedy also claimed the lives of two local chefs, Vardichand Menaria and Prakash Menaria, who were returning to their jobs in London. Vardichand’s wife and son Deepak, who had gone to bid him farewell at the Ahmedabad airport, now face the unimaginable task of returning home without him.
Payal Khateek, a native Gogunda in Udaipur, was also on the same plane. Payal was going to London for higher studies. Her family currently is settled in Himatnagar, Gujarat, because of her father’s business. Payal’s grandmother and other family members reside in Gogunda. Her death has spread a wave of grief throughout the region. Gogunda MLA Pratap Lal Gameti expressed sorrow over the incident. As relatives and neighbours gathered to console the bereaved families, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma reached out with promises of support. Udaipur MP Dr Mannalal Rawat expressed his deep sorrow, saying, “This loss is not just of individual families but of our entire community.”
