A tragedy that the world mourns.
240 lives gone within seconds. June 12, 2025, 1:39 PM.
Thousands left grieving their loss; their lives changed forever.
It’s unbelievable how the lives of 240 people were meant to come to an end at the same place, the same instant. It sends shivers down my spine to think how their destiny brought them together from different locations on the same flight, and without any warning, anticipation or realization that they will be charred to death within seconds! A plane that took off to take them to their awaited destination ended up being the carrier to their final destination.
Some had smiles on their faces, some had hopes in their eyes, some were carrying dreams for their future, some were going to meet their family, some were tourists flying back to their country, some were visiting the destination as tourists, some were relocating to the new country after months of preparation (sadly, for the day of their death!), a couple who recently got engaged, someone who was going back to his children with a heavy heart after completing the rites for his wife whom he’d recently lost, spiritual healers, politicians, crew members and pilots who were just doing their job as usual, and not to forget those who were sitting in the hostel on the ground – all were different, all had different lives, all had different purpose of the flight, all had different stories, but they all met the same fate.
Once again, the mortality of human beings, the fragility of life, and the unpredictability of the next breath were proven with heartbreaking, thunderous flames and sound.
If life is so untrustworthy, then what is the relevance of future planning? What and why do we keep chasing all our lives? Why do we endure so much pain, distress and despair if we have so little time left to make the best of our lives? Why do we keep ourselves trapped in unhealthy relationships, if we do not even have sufficient time to develop a good relationship with our own self? Is it worth toiling day and night to secure a distant future which we aren’t even sure would arrive? Is every fight really worth fighting for?
This deeply shocking incident has devastated the world of thousands of people who have lost their loved ones. How will they ever come to terms with such a tragedy? How will they ever set foot on an airplane again? What was the fault of those who died? And what is the fault of those left behind, whose entire lives have crumbled down without a clue? How can destiny be so cruel? Whose bad Karma is it – the ones who suddenly left the world, or the ones who are left behind?
Endless questions have arisen without any answers.
A trauma that would take years to heal.
If the concept of “one soul, many bodies” is to be believed, then it scares me to think that 240 souls left their physical abode together! Where did they go? Did they just vanish from the landscape?
My mind is full of queries that are mystifying me, without leading me anywhere. The only thing that I can understand is to be grateful for every breath, and for all the love and care of my family and friends that I have been blessed with. One can never predict what the next moment has in store for oneself!
Prayers of strength for the bereaved families. May the departed souls find love and peace wherever they are.
©Vandana Bhasin
13.06.2025
