Fragments of grief: AI 171 families cling to mementos from ashes — scorched gold jewellery and torn clothes, which tell stories of loss, are all that remain

AHMEDABAD/VADODARA: The debris of the ill-fated flight AI 171 may have been cleared from Meghaninagar, but for the families of the 241 lives lost in the June 12 crash, the emotional wreckage remains.

For many, closure comes in fragments: a child's lone shoe, scorched jewellery, torn clothes. These fragile items, returned by authorities, now carry unbearable meaning. They are fragments of love, loss, and all that never got to be said.For Yasin Vora of Ahmedabad, a bar of gold serves as the last tangible link to his wife Yasmin Bano, 51. "Yasmin had got a bracelet so our daughter-in-law could wear it for a baby shower, as it is customary to wear gold on that day.

She was wearing it on the flight," says Yasin. A local goldsmith, moved by the tragedy, cleaned the jewellery without charge. "The ornaments were damaged, so we had it refined into a gold bar. I will keep it forever.

"Yasmin had planned to fly on June 9 but delayed her journey to travel with his nephew Parvez, 31, and Parvez's four-year-old daughter Zuveriya who also died in the crash. His nephew Ejaz Vora says fragments of Parvez's and Zuveriya's clothing were buried with them.

Yasmin was headed to London to visit her sons, both expecting children. What should have been a joyous six-month visit turned into a farewell none could imagine.

Another grieving relative from Ahmedabad, who refused to be named, said he received a single shoe and an anklet belonging to the child who died in the crash. "That's all we got. That's all we could bury," he says quietly. In Bharuch, Dr Salim Kukreja recalls receiving the charred remains of his sister Sajida Salim's clothes and necklace.

"We never opened the body bag. The necklace is the last thing I have of her."Rafik Daud from Diu holds his son Faizan's ring tightly. "They sent it along with his remains. It was proof of his identity. We got it cleaned and keep it close now."In Anand, the prominent Halani family mourns three members: Badruddin Halani, 62, Yasmin Halani, 60, and Malek Rajabali Halani, 65. They were headed to the UK to visit family. After the crash, Aseem Halani received only a piece of his father's trouser and a charred belt.

"Nothing of my mother remains," he said. Riyaz Halani, Malek's son, received two scorched gold bangles. "They were on her wrists when she died."Badruddin, known for his social service in the UK, planned to travel to the US to raise funds for the Sainik School in Silvassa - a cause close to his heart. The Halani family awaits the return of the rest of the baggage, currently in police custody. "We have been told that after verification, it will be handed over to Air India, which will then contact the families," said Riyaz.Vadodara resident Heer Prajapati, whose mother Kalpana Prajapati was among the victims, said all they received was a medicine packet stuck to her body after the crash. "She had been carrying it in her handbag. That's how they identified her," said Heer. "She wore gold bangles and other jewellery, but I suppose they were destroyed." He plans to approach police in Ahmedabad with a formal request for any remaining belongings.There were others who have not been as fortunate. Arvind Khunt from Gir-Somnath, who lost his son Neel, said, "We got nothing. Not even his phone, laptop or bag. They said they'll inform us if anything turns up."