TV
In a story that speaks volumes about a mother’s love, Manisha Kachhadiya became both a shield and a saviour for her eight-month-old son, Dhyaansh, during the tragic Air India IC171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12.
When the Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed into the BJ Medical College residential quarters, claiming 260 lives, Manisha’s instinct was not to run but to protect.
Surviving the Flames
As flames engulfed their residence, Manisha wrapped her body around her son and ran through the thick smoke. “There was a blackout and then searing heat filled the room. I didn’t know if we’d make it out, but I had to try for my child,” she said.
Despite suffering 25% burns, Manisha shielded her son, who sustained 36% burns across his body. Her husband, Kapil Kachhadiya, a urology student at BJ Medical College, was on duty when the crash occurred.
A Mother's Body Becomes Her Son's Healing Ground
At KD Hospital, where both were rushed, baby Dhyaansh was kept in PICU on ventilator support, with severe burns and complications in his lungs. When doctors needed skin grafts to treat his wounds, Manisha once again came forward, this time to donate her own skin to aid her son’s healing.
“This was not just medical care — it was maternal sacrifice,” said Dr Adit Desai, MD of KD Hospital.
Healing Together: A Family's Fight
Kapil, too, played a crucial role in his son’s recovery, assisting doctors, even performing dressings late at night. After five weeks of intensive care, both mother and son were discharged.
Their survival is more than a miracle, it’s a testament to unbreakable love, resilience, and the power of family in the face of unthinkable tragedy.
