Viswashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of an Air India Express flight that crashed in Mangalore, India, on May 22, 2010, shared his harrowing experience and the extensive personal and financial losses he has endured. The flight, which had departed from Dubai, tragically overshot the runway, plunged into a deep gorge, and subsequently burst into flames. The disaster resulted in the deaths of 158 people out of the 166 individuals on board. Although eight people were initially rescued alive, seven of them later died in the hospital, leaving Ramesh as the only person to survive the crash.
Ramesh recounted waking up amidst the burning wreckage. He was pulled to safety by local villagers who heard the crash and rushed to the scene. He sustained severe injuries, including 25 percent burns and 17 fractures throughout his body. These injuries necessitated more than 45 surgeries, including skin grafts and operations on his hands, legs, and jaw. As a result of the extensive trauma, Ramesh suffers from permanent disabilities; he has lost sensation in his left hand, and his right hand has only partial function. His legs required the insertion of steel plates, and he is unable to sit or stand for prolonged periods without pain.
Beyond the profound physical and emotional scars, Ramesh experienced devastating personal and financial losses. His wife, Shruti, and their three-year-old daughter, Divya, both perished in the crash. He also lost all of his family’s accumulated wealth, including jewelry, land documents, and savings, which had been converted into gold ornaments for his daughter. His home, constructed with his life’s savings, was severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable. Ramesh stated that he lost everything he had.
Following the crash, the government and Air India initially offered Ramesh 20 lakh rupees as compensation for his injuries. However, he maintains that Air India ultimately paid him only 15 lakh rupees. Believing this amount to be insufficient to cover his lifelong medical needs and the comprehensive losses he sustained, Ramesh initiated a legal battle against Air India. His pursuit for greater compensation lasted 12 years, with his case eventually reaching the Supreme Court, which issued a decision in 2022.
Ramesh currently resides in a modest house, relying on the support of his relatives for daily care due to his ongoing pain and need for continuous treatment. He expressed a deep sense of injustice, asserting that Air India should provide more substantial assistance for his medical expenses and the complete rebuilding of his life, especially given his status as the sole survivor of the catastrophic accident.
Key Points
- Crash Date: May 22, 2010
- Total People on Board: 166
- Fatalities: 158
- Initial Survivors Rescued: 8
- Survivors Who Died in Hospital: 7
- Sole Survivor: 1 (Viswashkumar Ramesh)
- Ramesh’s Burns: 25 percent
- Ramesh’s Fractures: 17
- Ramesh’s Surgeries: More than 45
- Initial Compensation Offered: 20 lakh rupees
- Air India’s Final Payment to Ramesh: 15 lakh rupees
- Duration of Legal Battle: 12 years
- Supreme Court Decision Year: 2022
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