### Tragedy Strikes Family as Father is Killed in Air India Crash: Daughters Left Orphaned after Mother’s Cancer Battle
A devastating air disaster has left two young British sisters orphaned, after their father was killed in the recent Air India plane crash while travelling to India to honour his late wife’s final wish. Arjun Patoliya, aged 37, had journeyed to Gujarat to scatter the ashes of his wife, Bharti, who succumbed to cancer just 18 days earlier.
Mr Patoliya’s daughters, aged four and eight, have now lost both parents within a matter of weeks, a heart-rending situation that has prompted an outpouring of support. A GoFundMe campaign set up in the wake of the tragedy has already raised over £370,000, with thousands contributing to ensure the children’s future wellbeing.
Colleagues and friends have described Mr Patoliya as a beloved member of his community, both professionally and personally. He was employed at Inspired Elements Ltd, a furniture company based in Stanmore, north-west London. His employer organised the online fundraiser and paid tribute to him, describing Mr Patoliya as “not just a colleague but also a dear friend” and mourning the “profound loss” felt across the company.
“Arjun’s dedication, kindness, and spirit will remain with us,” the tribute read. As the company mobilises resources to support his daughters, organisers of the fundraiser have affirmed that the collected funds will go towards providing the girls with a nurturing home and long-term care, as well as educational opportunities. They emphasised the importance of securing a “future rooted in love, healing, and opportunity” for the bereaved children.
Mr Patoliya’s ties to India ran deep. He attended the Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul International School in Surat, in the country’s west. The school community expressed their sorrow on social media, with a teacher remembering him as a “cherished member of our Gurukul family” and lamenting his untimely passing as “a great loss.”
The Air India tragedy unfolded on Thursday, when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad. The disaster is among the deadliest involving British nationals in recent times, claiming the lives of 241 of the 242 people on board. The aircraft struck a medical college hostel in a densely populated residential area, compounding the scale of the catastrophe.
Rescue workers continued their efforts through Friday, locating at least 25 more bodies in the wreckage, though it remains unclear if these victims were on the flight or caught up on the ground beneath the crash site. Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital has so far received 270 bodies, a figure reported by Dr Dhaval Gameti of the Associated Press, highlighting the disaster’s far-reaching human toll.
The response from the public and various communities has been swift and supportive, with more than 8,700 donations made to the girls’ cause by Saturday afternoon. The collected funds are set to be managed via a legal trust to ensure full transparency and dedication to the sisters’ future needs, including provision for psychological and educational support.
The story of the Patoliya family has resonated with communities both in the UK and India, embodying the deeply personal cost behind horrifying international tragedies. As tributes continue to pour in for Arjun and Bharti, significant attention has been drawn to the importance of long-term support for children left suddenly without parental care.
As investigative authorities work to determine the full cause of the crash and its aftermath, the public’s focus remains on the wellbeing of those left in crisis—particularly the two young sisters whose family was so profoundly affected in a matter of days. The coming months will see efforts to secure them the stability and reassurance so critical for children enduring such loss, while the memory of their parents is honoured by loved ones and the wider community.