Prayers have been held at Hindu temples across north-west London following the Air India crash in Ahmedabad.
The London Gatwick bound flight crashed soon after take-off from the city’s airport in the western state of Gujarat, killing 241 people. One person – a British man – survived.
Sjro Rajrajeshwar, the spiritual leader of the Palmerston Road Temple in Harrow, said some of the victims had attended his temple for prayer.
“Today we are praying for them because it is the only thing we can give to the departed soul,” he said.
Tarun Patel, a spokesperson for the Neasden Temple, said the tragedy would have a particular impact on the Gujarati communities London, many of whom were concentrated in Harrow, Brent and Hounslow.
“When we heard it this morning, it was one of disbelief,” he said.
“It took time to really understand what’s happening, and when it sunk in, it was very sad, devastating. Innocent lives affected.”
Tarun Patel says the disaster will hit the Gujarati community in London especially hard [BBC]
While those who attend his temple does include a high proportion of Gujarati people, he said he was not aware of any in his congregation who were on the flight but that “the situation is very fluid”.
“That’s not to say that members are not affected. I think it’s a bit more than just people within this congregation… people at large have lost family and friends, and for that we feel their sorrow.”
He said his temple, and likely others across London and the UK, would continue holding opportunities to come together and pray for the “innocent lives lost”.
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