Attendees of a vigil in London to honor the victims of the Air India airplane disaster were deeply moved upon hearing about the two young sisters who were left without parents due to the tragedy.

The interfaith service took place on Saturday at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre located in Harrow, north-west London, where Harrow’s Mayor, Anjana Patel, noted that 20 of the deceased had previously been part of the congregation.

During her remarks, she conveyed the heartbreaking news that the two young girls had lost their father in the incident, only weeks after having lost their mother to cancer.

Over 240 individuals lost their lives when a Boeing 787, en route to Gatwick, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on Thursday.

Among the passengers were 169 Indian citizens, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian.

Mayor Patel addressed those in attendance, sharing that the girls’ father, Arjun Patoliya, had traveled to Gujarat to perform the last rites for his wife, Bharti, after her passing.

He was on his way back to reunite with his daughters, aged four and eight, when the tragedy struck.

“This is one of the most heart-wrenching incidents we’ve encountered in Harrow,” Patel expressed. “One parent had already succumbed to cancer. The husband traveled to India to complete the rituals, and on his return, he was on that flight. Now, he has left behind two little girls who are suddenly orphans. My sincere hope is that our community will support these girls.”

She continued, “The best we can offer at this sensitive time is compassion. We cannot articulate the depths of grief that the families and friends are experiencing, so all we can do is pray for them.”

Mayor Patel also shared that her sister-in-law’s cousin was among those who perished in the crash.

The temple was filled with local councillors, a member of Parliament, and residents for the somber ceremony, which featured heartfelt tributes, candle lighting, and a condolence message from the King.

Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, remarked that this incident likely represents the highest number of British casualties ever recorded in a single plane crash, with 53 UK citizens aboard.

“When a person passes away due to illness or old age, we tend to celebrate their life. However, in the case of an unforeseen air crash, lives are lost in an instant,” he said. “We think of the families anxiously awaiting news, wondering if their loved ones were on that flight.”

Blackman highlighted the profound impact on the Gujarati community in the UK, noting victims with ties to Harrow, Leicester, Birmingham, and beyond.

“The authorities face the challenge of identifying who the victims were visiting in the UK,” he added.

Councillor Hitesh Karia, who represents Pinner South and is part of the temple community, also spoke about the tragedy’s effects.

“It’s heartening to see the local community united—our support truly matters,” he expressed. “Twenty members of our faith have tragically lost their lives. This reflects our solidarity; regardless of our diverse backgrounds, we can come together in times of need.”

The vigil was led by Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who revealed he personally knew 20 of the individuals who perished.

As candles were lit by representatives from Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Jewish backgrounds, many in the audience shed quiet tears.

“The only emotion that remains is sorrow—we can’t do anything more,” Mr. Guruji shared.