CRASH VICTIMS' VIGIL

PEOPLE attending a vigil in London to remember victims of the Air India plane crash became visibly emotional after learning that two young girls had been orphaned by the disaster.

- JOSEPH HADDEN

Faith leaders from the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities led the service yesterday at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London, where 20 of the victims are thought to have previously worshipped.

One of the most emotional moments of the vigil came when Harrow Mayor, Councillor Anjana Patel, shared that two young girls had lost their father in the crash, just weeks after their mother died from cancer.

Their father, Arjun Patoliya, had flown to Gujarat to scatter his wife Bharti's ashes following her death.

He was returning home to his daughters, aged four and eight, when the plane went down.

"The saddest incident we have got here in Harrow is one parent had already died here because of cancer," Cllr Patel said, as the crowd audibly gasped.

"The husband went to do the rituals in India and coming back, he was on board. He has left two little girls behind and the girls are now orphans.

"I really hope that those girls will be looked after by all of us."

She added: "Caring is the most that we can do at this hour.