The families of British victims of the recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad are sharply criticizing the UK government's response to the tragedy, describing it as "disjointed, inadequate, and painfully slow." The Air India Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport last week, killing 229 passengers and 12 crew members. Among those on board the Gatwick-bound aircraft were 53 British nationals.

Family members who rushed to India to be closer to their loved ones have expressed feeling "utterly abandoned" by the lack of UK government support on the ground. They are calling for an immediate increase in the UK's presence and response in Ahmedabad, highlighting the absence of UK leadership, medical teams, and crisis professionals at the hospital where victims are being identified.

"There is no UK leadership here, no medical team, no crisis professionals stationed at the hospital," a family spokesperson stated. They further lamented the fact that they were being forced to make appointments to see consular staff based in a hotel 20 minutes away from the "overstretched and under-resourced hospital" where their loved ones remain unidentified.

The families have articulated several key concerns, including a "lack of transparency and oversight in the identification and handling of remains." They are demanding a full crisis team at the hospital within 24 hours, a British-run identification unit, and financial support for the relatives of the victims. A local doctor reportedly confirmed that delays in releasing bodies were linked to severe understaffing, adding to the families' distress.

Adding to the anguish, some relatives are struggling to get to Ahmedabad. One woman, whose sister-in-law, her husband, and their two young children were among the deceased, expressed frustration that the British Foreign Office had not offered the same support as Air India in facilitating travel to Ahmedabad. Air India has established assistance centers at various airports to support families and facilitate their travel to Ahmedabad.

Another family member voiced the collective sentiment of abandonment: "We're not asking for miracles – we're asking for presence, for compassion, for action. Right now, we feel utterly abandoned." The families are calling for the UK government to immediately step up its efforts to provide support and assistance to the families on the ground in India. They believe their loved ones, as British citizens, "deserved better in life" and "certainly deserve better in death."

In response to the criticism, Sky News has contacted the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for comment. As of now, the families await a meaningful response and a tangible increase in support from their government.