Air India -171 crash: A bell that rings daily with 'Kaise ho aap?' from Pakistani co-worker to his late friend's parents
It has been a year since the Ahmedabad Air India crash that killed 260 people, and the painful memories remain vivid for the friends and
It has been a year since the Ahmedabad Air India crash that killed 260 people, and the painful memories remain vivid for the friends and families of the victims. “Kaise ho aap… theek ho?” (How are you?) Omar Ali, a Pakistani colleague at a fancy goods store in London, checks in with his co-worker Kamlesh's parents in India. Kamlesh, from a hamlet in Gujarat, and his wife were on the doomed aircraft when the Air India crash occurred on June 12, 2025. After the tragedy, 40-year-old Omar, who worked at a fancy goods store in London, started regularly calling Kamlesh's father, Savdhanbhai, a 48-year-old farmer in Thavar, to check on him and offer emotional support.
What began as condolences turned into a deep friendship between the two families, The Indian Express reported. 'Hamein zara sa nakhoon me bhi dard hota hai toh Omar poochta hai' On his commute to work in London, Omar Ali makes it a point to call Savdhanbhai, discussing everything from the weather and health issues to food and family life. Their conversations often revolve around ordinary moments — Savdhanbhai's infected toenail, the cluster beans he had for lunch, or even Omar's clean-shaven appearance. Not a single day has passed without a call or message. “Hamein zara sa nakhoon me bhi dard hota hai toh Omar poochta hai (Omar calls and asks even if I have a small pain in my toenail).
And if someone is unwell at his home, even if it is a fever, we get to know,” Savdhanbhai was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. Also Read | Air India responds to Vijay Rupani’s daughter over compensation concerns Reflecting on their bond, Omar says their relationship was made possible by Kamlesh, whom he considers the link that brought the two families together. Despite never expecting such closeness, Omar says speaking with Savdhanbhai and offering comfort has become a source of solace for him. “I always tell Savdhanbhai, God made our relationship possible; Kamlesh was the medium for that to happen. I never thought I would be so close to this family.
Mere dil ko sukoon sa milta hai inse bat karke aur tassalli de kar (I find peace of mind and comfort talking to them and reassuring them).” Also Read | Air India Delhi-San Fran flight returns after 8 hours due to technical issues The UK-bound journey of Kamlesh Chaudhary and his wife, Dhapuben, was meant to mark the start of a new life abroad. Instead, the young couple from Thavar village in Dhanera lost their lives when the aircraft crashed shortly after take-off, shattering years of hopes and plans.
The BriefWire