Hundreds mourn air crash dead at Indian consulate in Dubai

Families and friends of those who died in the Air India aircraft crash in Mangalore gather together to say prayers and observe a minute's silence.

Sanjay Verma, the consul general of India, pauses with other mourners during a prayer vigil honouring the passengers killed in the aircrash in Mangalore, at the Indian Consulate in Bur Dubai yesterdayShow more

DUBAI // Hundreds of Indians gathered at their consulate in Dubai yesterday to light candles and mourn the loss of friends and loved ones who were killed in the Air India Express Flight 812 which crashed in Mangalore on Saturday.

Grieving relatives fought back tears as people voiced their condolences and prayed for the souls of the 158 victims. "This tragedy happened to people working here who had spent decades here, dedicated their youth to this country, and were going home," Sanjay Verma, the Indian consul general, told a packed audience at the consulate auditorium. "Let this time of crisis bring us together to hold hands as a nation.

"The 158 deaths affected many Indians in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Northern emirates. Today's gathering unites us all in sorrow. It unites our nationality," he said. Mr Verma announced that the Indian consulate in Dubai would appoint a dedicated officer to deal with all requirements the families of the deceased would need to receive the compensation the Indian government earlier this week announced would be offered.

"When the question of what the consulate will do for these families arises, I can say that we will provide a dedicated officer to deal with all the requirements," Mr Verma said. He said the process of compensation in such accidents had to go through a process but the consulate and the entire community will back the families in every way possible. "I am sure that everyone in this room is affected by this crash and has lost someone they knew. However, life has to go on," Mr Verma said.

Men, women and young children gathered at the hall to observe a minute's silence in respect for those who died. Schoolchildren then read out lines from holy books. The names of all the victims from the crash were shown on a large screen while many held pictures of those who died. Among the mourners were people who who bid farewell to family just hours before the ill-fated flight crashed around dawn on Saturday.

Soumya Aluva wiped tears from her face as she spoke of her grief at the thought of never again being able to see her cousin Reshma Santosh Rai. "I was with her at the airport. She had given birth to her daughter only a few months ago and was going to India to show her daughter to her grandmother," Ms Aluva said. Reshma, her four-month-old baby, and Ms Aluva's five-year-old son, Naland, died in the crash.

Pictures of Naland were placed on a podium as people lit candles in front of them. "Our friend Mahesh Shetty died in the crash," Shobha Shetty said. "We are here to pray for him and for peace to his family. We just feel like crying out loud and hoped this group gathering will give us some peace." Sudhakar Aluva said he lost five people he knew in the crash. "We are here to express solidarity and hope that we can get past this tragedy," he said.

Community leaders also gathered and spoke of the need for all Indians in the UAE to join together in this time of grief. CR Shetty, a community leader who comes from Mangalore, said: "This is the greatest tragedy to have happened in my lifetime. I have lost family, friends and community members. All I can do now is pray for them." Community leaders said that the last big plane crash in India was in 1996.

K Kumar, another community leader, said: "We lost children, families and men for no fault of theirs. I only pray that their souls remain in peace forever." Before departing, the mourners lit hundreds of candles at the consulate premises in memory of those who died. @Email:[e-mail]