In a story that defines courage, sacrifice, and the divine spirit of motherhood, Manisha Kachadiya from Gujarat proved that there is truly no one greater than a mother, not even the gods. On June 12, a devastating tragedy unfolded when Air India Flight IC 171, en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed into the BJ Medical College residential building just moments after takeoff. The horrific crash killed all 241 passengers on board and claimed the lives of several people on the ground, including residents and bystanders.
Amid the chaos and carnage, one act of heroism stood out, Manisha, a young mother, shielded her 8-month-old baby Dhyanash from the raging flames. When the aircraft struck their building, Manisha was at home while her husband, a medical student, was away. Within seconds, fire engulfed their apartment. Any ordinary person would have fled to save themselves, but Manisha chose to stay, clutched her baby tightly, and fought to protect him from the inferno.
Suffering severe burns on her hands, legs, and back, Manisha carried her child through the blazing building, refusing to let go even for a second. Though both suffered serious injuries, Manisha with 25% burns and baby Dhyanash with 36%, they survived. But their fight wasn’t over.
Doctors feared for the baby’s survival due to the extent of his burns. Yet Manisha, undeterred by pain or fear, stood by him in the hospital, enduring another phase of struggle with equal resolve. Her strength, both emotional and physical, became a testament to the undying spirit of motherhood.
Her story is not just about survival but about divine maternal instinct, the kind that fights even death to protect a child.