On June 12, 2025, the Air India crash took over 240 lives—passengers, crew members, and even innocent people on the ground. Families lost their loved ones in an instant. No time to say goodbye. No time to prepare. The pain this kind of loss brings is unlike any other.

This article is for those left behind. For the families who are waking up to a world that suddenly feels unfamiliar, heavy, and unfair.

When Loss Comes Suddenly

Usually, when someone falls sick or grows old, we get some time to prepare ourselves. But when someone dies without warning—like in an accident or crash—it shakes our entire sense of safety. One moment they were talking, planning, traveling... and the next, they’re gone.

This kind of loss often brings a strange silence. Many people describe it as feeling like the world stopped moving. Time feels slow, but also like it’s rushing past. You may feel shocked, confused, unable to cry, or overwhelmed with emotion. There’s no right or wrong way to feel.

“I Should Have Stopped Them”: Guilt and Regret

One of the most painful thoughts loved ones carry is the belief that they could have changed the outcome. “I told him not to travel that day.” “She said she didn’t want to go, and I encouraged her.” These are not just passing statements. They become mental loops—fueling guilt, self-blame, and deep emotional torment.

Psychologically, this response is normal. The mind tries to regain control by rewriting the past. But it's important to remember: no one can predict a tragedy. Guilt is a response to helplessness, not wrongdoing.

Why Grief Feels So Different After a Tragedy

In these situations, grief feels heavier because the loss was unexpected. Many families don’t even get to see or say a final goodbye. There are unanswered questions, delays in communication, and news headlines repeating your worst nightmare.

You may feel:

• Numb or emotionally shut down
• Angry at the system or the world
• Afraid of future travel or accidents
• Guilty for small things that feel big now
• Unable to get out of bed or follow a routine

This is all a normal reaction to an abnormal event. It doesn’t mean something is wrong with you—it means you’ve been through something deeply painful.

Professional Support: When Grief Needs More Than Time

If any of the following last beyond 4–6 weeks, professional support can be life-saving:

• Inability to eat or sleep
• Thoughts of self-harm
• Panic attacks or extreme fear
• Detachment from all relationships
• Overwhelming guilt or rage
• Depression or complete hopelessness

Therapists trained in trauma or bereavement can help individuals process not just the event, but its emotional aftermath. In India, many NGOs, grief centers, and helplines offer affordable and confidential support.

Rebuilding Meaning After Loss

Eventually, the grief doesn't leave—but it changes shape. For some, it becomes a legacy project: starting a foundation, writing a book, planting a tree. For others, it's simply about making space for the memory: lighting a candle on birthdays or keeping their phone number saved just a little longer.

Psychologically, this meaning-making is part of post-traumatic growth—a process in which people find deeper values, connections, or strength through tragedy.

Simple Ways to Care for Yourself When Grieving

These small tools can help you cope, even if only a little, during the hardest moments. They don’t fix grief—but they support you in surviving it.

1. Say What You Feel, Even If It’s Messy

Take a moment each day to speak or write what you feel—whether it’s sadness, confusion, guilt, or anger. You can talk to a trusted person, or even whisper it to yourself. It’s okay if your feelings don’t make sense. They’re still valid.

2. Hold On to Some Routine

Doing simple, everyday tasks—making tea, folding laundry, watering a plant—can help you feel a little more grounded. Don’t worry about productivity. Just find one or two small actions each day that feel familiar.

3. Create a Quiet Corner of Memory

Set aside a space with a photo, letter, or belonging of the person you lost. You can visit this space when you miss them. Let children create their own version—maybe a drawing or a small object they associate with that person.

4. Try This Gentle Breathing Exercise

Sit quietly. Breathe in slowly for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 4 seconds, breathe out for 4 seconds, and rest for 4 seconds. Repeat this 3 to 5 times whenever your mind feels too full or anxious.

5. Write Them a Letter

When guilt or regret shows up, try writing your loved one a letter. Tell them what you wish you could say. Say sorry if you need to. Say you love them. Say what’s in your heart. You don’t need to share it with anyone—it’s for your healing.

6. Let Children Ask Questions

If there are children in the family, speak to them gently and honestly. Let them draw, cry, ask questions. You don’t need to have all the answers. Just being there with them matters the most.

7. Celebrate the Small Wins

If you got out of bed today, ate a meal, or spoke to someone—it counts. Healing happens in small steps. Don’t measure your progress by how much you’re doing. Measure it by how much you’re showing up for yourself, even if it’s hard.

How to Remember Someone with Love

Over time, some people find comfort in doing something in memory of the person they lost. That might mean:

• Cooking their favorite dish on their birthday
• Sharing stories with others who knew them
• Lighting a candle or planting a tree
• Helping others in their name
• Simply keeping their photo on your wall

These gestures keep their presence alive in gentle ways.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone – The Mind Veda Is Here for You

At The Mind Veda, we deeply understand how devastating sudden loss can be. Our team of compassionate psychologists is here to walk beside you through the storm—whether you’re feeling broken, numb, angry, or unable to talk. We offer one-on-one support, grief counseling, and gentle tools to help you cope at your own pace. You don’t have to have the right words or know what you need—just come as you are. We're here to hold space for your pain and help you slowly rebuild from it, one breath at a time.

Some people cry every day. Others go silent. Some talk, some isolate, some distract themselves with work. There’s no one way to grieve. There is only your way—and it’s enough.

You didn’t get to say goodbye. You didn’t get to change the outcome. But you can take care of yourself now. You can ask for help. And you can let yourself feel all that love, even in the pain.

The road ahead will have many turns. But you don’t have to walk it alone.