AHMEDABAD: At the Umiya Mata temple in Gandhinagar, grief hung heavy as mourners gathered to remember Deepanshi Bhadouriya, who died in the AI 171 crash just days after rescheduling her return to London.
The 21-year-old wanted to spend some more time with her family. The daughter of deputy superintendent S S Bhadouriya, Deepanshi was a student of law at Exeter University. One of their close family friends recalls her as a brilliant student who "represented her college across six countries and was also sponsored by her college to go skydiving in Dubai at 20".
Deepanshi had flown home on March 27 to surprise her father on his birthday. "She was to return on May 20, but postponed her departure to June 12 to celebrate her parents' wedding anniversary on June 11," her friend said. "She wanted to celebrate the day with her father and mother Madhulika," recalled another family friend, voice breaking. He added, "The entire day she was with her family. Everyone had turned up for the celebrations. I cannot forget that day."
The promise she made to her father haunts those who knew her: "Papa, once I complete my studies, you can always leave this job. I shall take care of everything," Her friends remember her as a bold, cheerful girl who was her father's strength and her brother Shaurya's pride.
At Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, she took a final selfie with her parents before boarding the AI 171 Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Minutes after take-off, the aircraft carrying 242 passengers crashed into Atulyam complex in Meghaninagar. By the time her family reached home, the news had already shattered their world.