In a sliver of relief amid the tragic news of an Air India Express flight skidding off the runway, killing 18 people so far, seven-year-old twins Zain and Zamil Kundot Parakkal survived the accident, and have been reunited with their uncle.
At this point, however, it is unknown if their mother survived the crash.
According to TNM, videos of the seven-year-olds looking dazed as they said their names, have emerged. The boys were reportedly first labelled “unidentified twins” and brought to Red Crescent hospital.
However, later, according to TNM, their uncle came to the hospital to claim them and they were discharged. They are reportedly residents of Malappuram.
The duo have sustained minor injuries on their legs, a staff member told TNM.
Zain and Zamil’s Family
The twins’ siblings Zeya and Ziyan also survived the accident, and were admitted to MIMS hospital in Kozhikode, reported TNM. Ten-year-old Zeya is being treated by the Orthopedic department for a fracture, and 14-year-old Ziyan’s condition is stable.
The hospital staff informed TNM that their father is in Dubai.
“Their father is in Dubai and the family was traveling back to Kerala. We do not have details on whether the rest of the family survived the accident. The children were alone in the hospital.”Hospital staff
50 Minors on Flight
Over 100 people have sustained injuries in the plane crash. Pilot Deepak Vasant Sathe and first officer Akhilesh Kumar are among the deceased.
The twins were among 50 minors who were present in the flight, reported TNM. The casualties include children as well, one of them as young as 10 months old.
A volunteer, reportedly told TNM, that the rescue operations were concluded within 30-45 minutes, even though a group of people were trapped between mangled seats:
“We had to cut open the seats and release them and that took time. One of them did not survive the accident. The others were hospitalised.”Rescue worker to TNM
(With inputs from TNM.)
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