241 Dead in Air India Crash; North East Mourns Loss of Manipur Flight Attendant

Ahmedabad/Imphal, June 14, 2025: In a tragic aviation disaster, an Air India flight bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday morning, killing 241 people on board. Authorities said only one person miraculously survived the crash. The cause is still under investigation, with rescue and recovery operations continuing at the site.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the country as grieving families from various states, including the Northeast, rushed to Ahmedabad to identify their loved ones. Among those lost was 26-year-old Lamnunthem Singson, a Christian cabin crew member from Manipur, one of two crew members from the state on the flight.

Singson, who hailed from the Old Lambulane area in Imphal, was the only daughter of her widowed mother and the third of four siblings. Her family had fled to Kangpokpi district in 2023 due to the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur. Known for her dedication and quiet faith, Singson had been the sole breadwinner for her family. Her cousin Lun Kipgen, speaking to The Morning Bell, said, “She last spoke to her mother on Wednesday night. They prayed together as always.” Since hearing the news, her mother has been in deep shock.

Her brothers and cousin travelled from Guwahati and Dimapur to Ahmedabad to help identify her remains. The family was informed by Air India late Thursday night that the bodies of the victims had not yet been identified.

The crash has prompted nationwide mourning. Tributes and condolences have poured in from all corners of India, remembering the lives lost — passengers and crew who were simply doing their jobs or heading for new beginnings.

As authorities continue to investigate what caused the fatal crash, the families of the deceased wait for answers and closure. For many like Singson’s family, the grief is compounded by displacement, hardship, and now, the loss of a loved one who carried their hopes.

Source: The Morning Bell