Ahmedabad, June 18
When Air India Flight AI-171 crashed shortly after take-off on June 12, the tragedy was not just India’s deadliest air disaster in recent memory — it was also major heartbreak for Diu and a small coastal village there, in particular.
While 14 people from Diu died in the crash, Bucharwada, a quiet hamlet in the Union Territory is mourning the loss of nine of its residents who were among the 241 victims aboard the London-bound Air India flight. The village is now preparing for their funerals.
All 14 of those who died had strong ties to Diu, a former Portuguese colony known for its diaspora that stretches from the Arabian Sea to Europe. Most had settled in the UK or Portugal over the years, acquiring foreign citizenship but never cutting ties with their homeland.
They returned frequently — to visit aging parents, celebrate weddings, attend festivals, or simply reconnect with their roots.
“The pain is unimaginable,” said Dinesh Bhanu, a panchayat member in Bucharwada.
“Nine families in our village have lost loved ones. These were people who never forgot their soil — even after crossing oceans.” One of the Portuguese nationals aboard the ill-fated flight had recently travelled to Diu to explore his cultural heritage.
Another, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, had also been visiting family in Diu and is now the sole survivor of the crash.