Air India victim was 'mother of Wellingborough'

A woman who died along with her grandson and her daughter-in-law in a plane crash in India has been described as "the mother of Wellingborough".

At least 270 people were killed on Thursday when a Boeing 787 bound for Gatwick crashed shortly after take off in Ahmedabad.

Raxa Modha, from Wellingborough, her two-year-old grandson, Rudra, and Yasha Kamdar were believed to have been flying back to England for a memorial service for Ms Modha's late husband.

Jay Bapodra, who had known Raxa and her family "for decades" said she was "a pillar of the community".

Mr Bapodra, 41, said: "Raxa was very loving. She did a lot for the local community, especially from a charitable perspective - both here and in India.

"She was just one of those characters where she'd walk into a room and light it up.

"She was happy-go-lucky, never said anything bad about anybody. She was positive and very approachable... she was just a very special person."

Ms Modha ran a restaurant named Pooja Caterers in Wellingborough which also catered for events including weddings.

Mr Bapodra said Raxa was "very well known" and became especially connected in the community during the Covid pandemic when her business delivered meals.

Her husband, Kishor Modha, died in April from cancer in India and a memorial for him was planned for 22 June in Wellingborough.

Only one passenger, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, survived the crash.

Indian, Portuguese and Canadian nationals were also on board.

Among the 53 Britons to have been killed were a family who lived in Gloucester, three members of the same family who lived in London, and a married couple who ran a spiritual wellness centre in the capital.

• The terrifying moment when Air India plane crashed into canteen
• Air India plane crash death toll rises to 270
• Who were the victims?

Mr Bapodra explained that Raxa's two-year-old grandson was travelling to the UK for the first time so that he could meet family.

He said he had been messaging Raxa "in the hours before the flight" and that he couldn't "compute" her passing.

"Raxa was a mother figure... she was a mother of Wellingborough." he said.

"It's a massive void that can't be filled. Their [Raxa and her husband Kishor's] children don't have either of their parents.

"It's going to take a long time to heal as community."

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