A year after the Air India flight AI 171 crashed, families of the victims have renewed their demand for a permanent memorial at the crash site, opposing the state govt’s decision to demolish the damaged hostel buildings of BJ Medical College and construct new blocks in their place.A lawyer representing several affected families said relatives had written to aviation authorities last month requesting that the sanctity of the crash site be maintained.The appeal came after the state govt announced plans to raze the existing hostel structures and redevelop the land.In their email, a copy of which is with TOI, the families stated, “For us, this place is not merely land or infrastructure. It is a site connected to lives, memories, grief, and irreversible loss.”They urged the authorities to preserve the area as a memorial to the victims rather than construct public facilities there.The letter further said that the memorial would serve “not only as a place of remembrance for families, but also as a permanent public acknowledgement of the lives lost and the importance of accountability and safety”.For 24-year-old Janvi Purohit from Khambholaj village in Anand, the approach of the first death anniversary of her brother Akash has revived painful memories of June 12 last year.“No money can bring the dead back or fill the void. Both my parents are heart patients and have been suffering from panic attacks since the tragedy. I believe there should be a permanent tribute and a memorial should be built at the crash site to honour all those who have lost their lives,” she said.Echoing the demand, Parth Patel, who lost his mother, uncle and aunt in the crash, said, “To the world, this is a redevelopment zone, but to the families, this soil is where their world ended. A permanent memorial should be made at the crash site to remember the souls.”Ahmedabad resident David Christian, who lost his son Rozar and daughter-in-law Rachana in the crash, said, “The crash site deserves to become a place of remembrance.”Stressing that he is not opposed to the govt’s proposed plans for the site, Christian said that a memorial would offer something equally important — a space for healing. “We are not against any other project. But there should also be a memorial where families can pay their respects and remember their loved ones.”However, the state govt has made it clear that no memorial will be constructed at the site.President of the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), Capt C S Randhawa, told TOI, “The families of the victims have expressed a legitimate demand for a memorial at the crash site, and this is something the govt should give due consideration to. After the Air India Flight 182 Kanishka tragedy over the Atlantic Ocean, a national memorial was established in Ottawa, as many Canadian citizens were among the victims. In a similar spirit, we should also pursue such an initiative here, as the victims deserve to be remembered.”(With inputs from Paul John, Tushar Tere, Prashant Rupera and Shinjini Sen)
