Indians in UK pay tributes to Ahmedabad plane crash victims

Bhubaneswar: Indians living in England and Ireland paid tributes to victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash. A prayer meeting was organised at the Indian High Commission in London on Monday. It included recitations from Hindu and Buddhist scriptures, Bible, Quran, Gurbani and Zoroastrian prayer, followed by floral tributes to the victims. Indian high commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, assured all help, including legal or insurance, to any bereaved family member."I attended the meeting to pay respect to the departed souls whose life ended in such a tragic way. They had many dreams. Some were coming to the UK for studies, others to start a new life. Everything vanished in no time," said Gaurav Mahana from London, who along with his friend Indranil Neogi from Winnersh near Reading attended the prayer meet. Neogi said he came to show solidarity in the time of grief.The prayer meet was attended by about 300 people, including UK deputy PM Angela Rayner, MPs from House of Commons and House of Lords and, Canadian high commissioner to UK, Ralph Edward Goodale. At the Vedic Hindu Cultural Centre Ireland, Dublin, prayers were offered in memory of the deceased on Sunday. The VHCCi members also lighted diyas and chanted the Mahamrutyunjay mantra."Ireland is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic crash on June 12. On behalf of VHCCI, I extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the crash, said Dilip Kathuria, a board member of the centre.