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Community's 'sadness and shock' over Air India crash

Sophia Seth & Marcus White
BBC South
BBC A group of about 30 people stand in a large red-carpeted room. A boy in the foreground has his eyes closed and hands clasped in front of him. Other people are singing and clapping their hands.BBC
People offered prayers at Southampton's Vedic Society Hindu Temple

A community is "saddened and shocked" after being touched by the Air India crash, a religious leader has said.

More than 200 people died when the London-bound flight hit a residential area in Ahmedabad just seconds after taking off at about 09:00 BST.

At least two of the victims lived in the South of England and known to members of Southampton's Vedic Society Hindu Temple, community members said.

Temple president, Sanjay Chandarana, said people had gathered there to pray for the passengers and their families.

A group of people stand in a large red-carpeted room.
More than 30 people sang and chanted as part of a vigil at the temple on Thursday evening

He said: "It's a close community... It's so personal for everyone to see the crash.

"The temple doors are open. We pray together, we stand together and we are standing beside them.

"So may God give blessings and peace to people who lost their lives and comfort and strength to the families."

Sanjay Chandarana stands in a room near a woman who is praying and singing. He has a white shirt and is bald with combed, grey hair.
Temple president Sanjay Chandarana said the tragedy was "personal" for the community

The president, who is from the Indian state of Gujarat where the crash occurred, said Air India was close to people's hearts.

He said: "It's a lifeline. It brings the two continents together, the two countries together, culture, tradition."

More than 30 people sang and chanted as part of a vigil at the temple on Thursday evening.

Community members said at least two of the victims had recently lived and worked in the south of England.

There were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian on the flight.

At least 50 injured medical students are being treated in hospital after the plane crashed into a doctors' hostel in the western Indian city.

A person looks at a statue in the temple
Community members said at least two of the victims had recently lived and worked in the south of England

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