Thiruvananthapuram: As the country mourns the tragic crash of a London-bound Air India flight that claimed the lives of 241 passengers onboard, Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district grieves for one of their own. Among those killed was Ranjitha G. Nair, a 39-year-old nurse from Pullad village who was returning to London after a short visit home.
Her sudden death has left not only her family bereft, but also cast a shadow over the nearly completed home she had been building—a long-cherished dream now left unfinished.
Ranjitha had travelled by train to Kochi’s Nedumbassery Airport Wednesday evening. From there, she boarded a flight to Chennai and then to Ahmedabad, where she was to take the final leg of her journey to London.
But the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport Thursday, leaving just one survivor. The aircraft struck a doctors’ hostel, adding to the devastation.
Ranjitha had worked as a nurse in Doha, Qatar, for several years before securing a job in the UK seven months ago. Her short visit to Kerala was prompted by official paperwork related to her employment, P.G. Anil Kumar, a neighbour and former local body member, told ThePrint.
“She had been involved in the planning and construction of her dream house for years. It was her biggest goal. The work was almost complete, and they were planning to move in this coming Onam,” Anil said.
Ranjitha is survived by her elderly mother and two school-going children, currently in Class 10 and Class 7.
Despite her brief stays, Anil said she always made it a point to meet everyone in the locality—a habit that had endeared her to many.
“Ranjitha was like a daughter to all of us. She would greet everyone with a smile and made sure to catch up with people, even if she was only home for a few days. She was the sole breadwinner of her family and worked tirelessly to ensure a better future for her children and mother,” Anil added.
He said the district administration had arranged for Ranjitha’s siblings to travel to Ahmedabad Friday evening to assist with the DNA identification process.
Kerala health minister Veena George, who is also the MLA from Aranmula, and Pathanamthitta MP Anto Antony visited the grieving family Friday.
“It’s not just a loss for her family, but for the entire locality. We have been in touch with officials in Ahmedabad since last night, and were told that arrangements for DNA testing are in place. The government will extend all necessary support to the family,” George told reporters after her visit.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)