Viswashkumar Ramesh, a British citizen, has emerged as the only survivor of a tragic Air India crash that occurred recently. On his way home from a trip to India, disaster struck. When his flight crashed into a medical school hostel, it led to an internal war within India. The incident turned tragic leading to loss of lives of 50 including Ramesh’s brother Ajay.
In the days following the crash, Ramesh was met with a tidal wave of feelings. He told his family at home, “I don’t have any idea why I’m alive.” Few people understand this feeling better than mass disaster survivors. For them, survival is all too often a curse rather than a grace.
A Family in Mourning
Viswashkumar Ramesh’s family is now forced to figure out how to live with the deep grief that comes after such an unthinkable tragedy. It wasn’t long before Nayan Ramesh received his first video call from Viswashkumar. This took place only seconds after Nayan was temporarily freed from the debris. The fraternal tie remained strong in all its forms, even after that terrible loss, as Nayan comforted the brother he’d had to live without.
Tragically, Ajay Ramesh was not as fortunate. He had been seated in another part of the plane and died in the crash. Yet losing a loved one so unexpectedly further complicates Viswashkumar’s fight for life. Now he has to deal with the intense survivor guilt, as mental health professionals call it. This condition frequently comes into play when survivors struggle with worthiness or guilt over surviving when others did not.
“I have no idea how I exited the plane.” – Viswashkumar Ramesh
The Incident’s Aftermath
The fateful Air India flight also crashed into a medical school hostel, killing many on the ground as well. News reports say at least seven people died in this terrible tragedy. Meanwhile, the local community has started to grieve for those who died while providing a path for survivors to heal.
Media organizations soon coalesced around Ramesh to pin blame for the crash. Filmed and interviewed in the hours after the incident took place, Kamasi offers a first-hand account of his harrowing experience. We hope this coverage brings to life the human stories behind disasters. While victim-centeredness helps us support and guide survivors through trauma, it places the heavy burden of responsibility on survivors.
The research shows that fewer than one in ten people on average actually survive mass disasters. Ramesh’s survival is an amazing outlier in these numbers. This extraordinary result draws public attention and underscores the personal impact that these tragedies can have.
Navigating Survivor Guilt
Survivor guilt is a complex psychological reaction that may follow traumatic events. For Viswashkumar Ramesh, this shame is perhaps amplified by the death of his brother and three others from Saturday’s crash. He struggles with the “what ifs” that come with being the only one left alive. In this terrible fight, he will likely think back on what other survivors of unspeakable events have felt.
“I didn’t think I was worthy of the gift of being alive,” – George Lamson Jr.
These reflections can sometimes take people and communities into a greater and deeper questioning of what it means to live and thrive after such traumatic experiences. Mental health advocates and experts are urging people to reach out for help in difficult moments. They empower survivors like Ramesh to freely express their thoughts and emotions in candid discussions.
