Mississauga dentist Dr Nirali Sureshkumar Patel was the sole Canadian on the fateful plane that crashed in India, killing 265. Indian-origin Dr Patel is survived by her husband and their 1-year-old child. “It’s absolutely shocking. There’s no words in this grievance,” community leader Don Patel, told CTV News Toronto on Thursday. Don, who knew Nirali’s family, said she had been in India for four or five days before making her return to Etobicoke.Ontario premier Doug Ford shared his condolences on X. “I’m saddened to learn that a Canadian from Mississauga, Ontario was among those lost in the tragic Air India crash near Ahmedabad. On behalf of the people of Ontario, I extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of every victim. We are keeping you in our thoughts during this difficult time,” the Canadian politician wrote.Dr Nirali’s husband Dr Shukla who declined to provide his full name to Canadian media, said his wife was there on the plane. “That was my wife. I am not in a state to speak right now,” he said. Dr Nirali moved to Canada after graduating in India. In Ontario, she was employed at The Heritage Dental Care and chose dentistry as a profession because “the feeling that my work has made a difference in someone’s life brightens my day!” reads her bio.“Once per year, Dr. Patel offers free treatments to her patients and often volunteers at a free dental camp,” her bio added. Dr Nirali’s husband and child are in the process of traveling to India. “I spoke to her brother very briefly this morning while we were trying to help and arrange their travel,” Don said of Nirali’s family trying to get to India. “We’ll try to give them strength, whichever way we can. Sometimes words might not help them, but moral support or just showing (up) and being there with them gives them so much strength,” the family friend added.
