Former JNMC student Dr. Prateek Joshi, his wife, and three children tragically died in an Air India crash after takeoff from Ahmedabad. Community mourns loss.
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“He Wanted a Better Life for His Kids”: Former JNMC Doctor, Family Perish in Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Belagavi | June 13, 2025 Senior Correspondent
A quiet sadness engulfed the campus of KAHER’s Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) in Belagavi on Friday morning as faculty and former classmates remembered a beloved alumnus, Dr. Prateek Joshi, who died along with his wife and three young children in the tragic Air India crash that occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport.
Dr. Joshi, a native of Udaipur, Rajasthan, was traveling with his wife Dr. Komi, their eight-year-old daughter Miraya, and five-year-old twin sons Nakul and Pradyut, en route to London, where they had recently relocated in pursuit of a better future.
The aircraft, operating as part of a regular international route, experienced technical failure moments after takeoff, ultimately crashing into an open field just outside city limits. Emergency crews confirmed no survivors among the 176 passengers and crew onboard.
Belagavi Doctor Dr. Prateek Joshi, Family Killed in Ahmedabad Plane Crash
A Life of Dedication and Hope
Faculty at JNMC, where Dr. Joshi studied MBBS between 2000 and 2005, were quick to recall his warmth and determination.
“He was one of the most cheerful and committed students we had,” said Dr. N S Mahantshetti, Principal of JNMC. “He had a smile for everyone — patients, classmates, professors. This is an unbelievable loss.”
After his undergraduate years in Belagavi, Joshi pursued a postgraduate degree in radiology from Kolar Medical College, eventually establishing himself as a respected professional in the medical field. In 2021, after being offered a position at a private hospital in London, he moved abroad. According to close friends, he had long dreamt of creating a stable and thriving future for his children.
“He always said that education was the best gift he could give his kids,” a former classmate told DH under condition of anonymity. “That’s why he was bringing them over — to start a new chapter together.”
Final Moments Captured in Joy
A selfie sent by the Joshi family to relatives just before boarding the plane has gone viral among friends and well-wishers. The family, seen smiling brightly, radiated joy and anticipation.
“We were all so happy for them,” said a relative from Udaipur. “Komi had just resigned from her hospital job. It was supposed to be the beginning of their dream life.”
The family had spent several weeks in India wrapping up affairs and saying goodbye to loved ones before returning to the UK together.
Belagavi Mourns
At JNMC, a condolence meeting was held in the auditorium, with professors and students observing two minutes of silence. An alumni group has initiated an online tribute wall for Dr. Joshi, and a special scholarship fund in his name is under discussion.
“It’s hard to process. We’ve lost not just a brilliant doctor, but a friend, a father, a husband, and a good human being,” said Dr. Sameera R., a faculty member who mentored Joshi during his time in Belagavi.
The Larger Tragedy
While investigations are underway into the technical malfunction behind the Air India crash, civil aviation authorities have grounded the aircraft model involved and launched a safety audit of all similar jets in service.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of Civil Aviation both issued official statements expressing grief, and a national compensation fund has been set up for the families of the victims.
Air India has yet to release the full passenger list, but local media has begun confirming identities based on eyewitness reports and family confirmations. The tragedy marks one of India’s most severe aviation disasters in recent years.
A Future Lost Too Soon
At just 41 years old, Dr. Prateek Joshi was entering what many described as the peak of his personal and professional life. With three young children, a supportive partner, and a global career ahead, the loss of the entire family has sent shockwaves through multiple cities — from Belagavi to Ahemedabad to London.
“We can only hope they left this world as they appeared in their last photo — happy, hopeful, together,” said Dr. Mahantshetti.
For a man who dedicated his life to healing others, this sudden end is a cruel irony. But for those who knew him, Dr. Joshi's memory will live on — in the halls of JNMC, in the lives he touched, and in the legacy of compassion and commitment he leaves behind.
