UMVA has learned that a solemn gathering took place on the south lawn of Queen’s Park to mark the 41st anniversary of the devastating Air India bombing, a tragedy that still resonates deeply with those who were affected.
The event, attended by a small group of families and loved ones, served as a poignant reminder of the largest mass murder in Canadian history, which claimed the lives of 331 people, including 268 Canadian citizens, when two terrorist bombs ripped through Air India Flight 182 on June 23, 1985.
Master of ceremonies Deepak Khandelwal, who lost his two sisters in the tragedy, expressed the pain and loss that still lingers, saying, "As time goes by, this group of families gets smaller with many people who have passed away and that is one of the reasons why we host these services and remember the people who were murdered."
The bombing, which occurred over the southwest coast of Ireland at 31,000 feet, was a "cowardly attack" on a civilian aircraft, leaving only 132 bodies recovered, and its impact is still felt today, with Khandelwal describing it as "a daily thing" that he and others have to live with.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the Irish armed forces and commercial vessels had rushed to the scene in a desperate bid to assist in a rescue that sadly turned into a recovery effort, with the vice-consul general for Ireland in Toronto, Cahal Sweeney, reflecting on the tragedy, saying, "The sheer scale of the tragedy is almost impossible to contemplate."
The wreckage of the plane remains in a warehouse in British Columbia, a stark reminder of the devastating event, while the Indian government maintains ownership of the plane's remains, and Mahaveer Singhvi, the consul general for India in Toronto, extended his country's sympathies to the families, saying, "Forty-one years may have passed, but time hasn’t erased the pain and loss of the families and the victims."
In a gesture of solidarity, Tuesday was also designated as the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism in Canada, a day to recognize the victims of terrorism and stand with those who have been affected, with Sweeney adding, "It is love that brings us together," and conveying his country's deepest condolences to the families.
The Air India memorials in Toronto and Ahakista, Ireland, bear the inscription, "Time flies and suns rise, shadows fall, let it pass by love reigns forever," a poignant reminder of the enduring power of love and remembrance.
