"Still feels as if he is with us": Vijay Rupani's untimely demise leaves neighbours devastated

Rajkot (Gujarat) [India], June 13 (ANI): The untimely demise of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in the Air India-171 plane crash has left his family, friends, and neighbours devastated.
Speaking to ANI, one of his neighbours, Kiranbe, with a wrenched heart, stated that it still feels as if he is present with them. She could not believe she had lost her neighbour Rupani.
"...I still feel as if he is with us. I have not been able to say anything since yesterday. His memories will stay with us always...We used to celebrate all the festivals together...Cannot believe this has happened," she said.
For Rupani's neighbour and family doctor, Dr Nayan Shah, it is hard to believe what has happened, but it would be the memories which he will cherish forever.
Shah stated, "We have been neighbours for 35 years. His memories will always stay with us. Be it good or bad times, we stayed together...We used to celebrate all the festivals together...It is very difficult to believe, but we have to stay with his memories."
Rupani, who was serving as in-charge of the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), lost his live in the aircraft crash incident. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu had confirmed the presence of former CM Rupani on board the crashed Air India flight.
A total of 241 people onboard the Boeing 787-8, Air India flight 171, including 12 crew members, have died in the deadly Ahmedabad plane crash, Air India confirmed post-midnight on Friday.
The flight, which was operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on June 12, 2025, carried 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national.
The passenger plane crashed near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Gujarat's Ahmedabad into a resident doctors' hostel building shortly after take-off.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi visited the Air India plane crash site in Ahmedabad and reviewed the ground situation, a day after the AI-171 flight bound for London Gatwick crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad International Airport here.
PM Modi went to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and met the lone survivor of AI 171 plane crash and those injured in the mishap. (ANI)