A devastating air disaster struck the city of Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon when Air India Flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick, crashed into a residential area just moments after takeoff. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was carrying 245 people, including 233 passengers and 12 crew members, when it plummeted into the Meghani Nagar neighbourhood, sending flames and thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

Seconds After Takeoff

Flight AI171 departed from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at approximately 1:38 PM local time. According to preliminary flight data, the aircraft reached an altitude of only 625 feet before losing contact with air traffic control. Within moments, it veered off course and slammed into a cluster of buildings, triggering a massive fireball.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror as the plane descended unnaturally low before the impact. “There was a deafening roar, and then everything shook,” said Rajeev Kumar, a local resident. “The sky was on fire.”

Emergency Response

Local emergency services responded within minutes. At least seven fire engines and multiple ambulances were dispatched to the scene, where crews battled flames and searched for survivors. The area has been cordoned off to facilitate rescue operations.

Although officials have yet to confirm the number of casualties, sources indicate that fatalities are “highly likely.” The condition of survivors, if any, remains unknown at this time.

Government and Airline React

India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, issued a statement confirming the crash and expressing deep concern. “We are monitoring the situation closely and doing everything possible to support rescue efforts,” he said.

Air India has activated its emergency response protocol and is working with authorities to contact families of those on board. “This is a tragic day for all of us,” said Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Group, which owns Air India. “Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, and their loved ones.”

Investigation Underway

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash. Black box recovery operations are underway, and teams are analysing technical data, including weather, fuel systems, and mechanical performance.

Experts note this would be the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its introduction to commercial service in 2011.

A Nation in Shock

The tragedy has shaken the nation and the international community. British authorities are coordinating with Indian officials to identify and assist UK nationals who may have been on board.

Messages of sympathy have poured in from around the world as families anxiously await news. The Indian Prime Minister is expected to visit the site later today.

Updates to follow as story develops

A break-in at a quiet art centre in Seljord, Norway, has shocked the local community, not only because of the damage done but because the burglars left behind a surprise of their own. After ransacking nine rooms and stealing or destroying over 150 works of art, the thieves painted their own picture and left it behind on the back of an existing artwork.

The break-in happened at Kunstlåven, the Seljord Art Barn, at the end of February. When the Seljord Art Association members arrived, they were met with a heartbreaking sight. Paintings had been torn from walls, canvases were slashed, and sculptures were either stolen or damaged. A knife had even been driven into the head of a doll, adding a disturbing element to the already unsettling scene.

In total, 66 works of art were stolen, and 85 were damaged. But among the destruction, something unexpected was found.

In one room, everything was neat and tidy. The lights were on, and the space looked like it had been lived in. The burglars had used it as a hideout, staying there for several days. According to Dag Aanderaa of the Seljord Art Association, the room was strangely peaceful.

“In this one room, there was a light that was not visible from the outside,” he said. “They were probably sitting there and having a good time.”

And they were doing more than just resting. The burglars picked up brushes and painted their image on the back of a painting by the late local artist Willy Eimerdal Jensen. The painting they used now has an unusual story, part original artwork, part evidence in a criminal case.

The story is even more bizarre because the thief-made painting is not being thrown away. Members of the art association say it is “usable, within its genre”, and surprisingly not that bad.

The strange case has drawn comparisons to famous art thefts in Norway, such as the theft of Edvard Munch’s The Scream. But this incident is different. It combines crime with creativity in a way that few expected.

After weeks of investigation, the police in the South-East Police District announced that four people from Seljord have been charged. They have reportedly admitted to being in the barn and are cooperating with authorities. Thanks to tips from the public and help from the art association, many stolen artworks have now been recovered.

“It was a very good feeling to be able to return many of the artworks to the Seljord Art Association,” said patrol leader Else Krogseth Eilefstjønn.

Police are still working to track down all of the missing pieces. However, the return of many stolen works has brought some relief to the local art community, which the break-in has shaken.

Seljord is a small town surrounded by nature and known for its local legends and folklore, including the famous Seljord Serpent, a creature said to live in Lake Seljord. It is not a place where people expect art crimes to happen. The burglary has been deeply upsetting for the Seljord Art Association, which works to promote and protect local talent.

Many of the stolen or damaged pieces were created by local artists, including the late Willy Eimerdal Jensen, whose painting was used as the canvas for the thieves’ own creation. The decision of the burglars to paint on the back of his work has left the community with mixed feelings — some see it as a final insult, others see it as a strange kind of tribute.

Whether or not the thief-made painting will ever be shown publicly is still unknown. The art association has not decided what to do with it, but it is being kept as part of the case file and possibly as a future talking point.

In Norway, as in many countries, art holds great cultural value. It reflects personal expression and the community’s identity and stories. The loss or damage of such works can be deeply personal for artists and those who support them. That is why this case has received attention locally and across the country.

The fact that the burglars decided to create something during their stay adds a strange twist to the story. It raises questions about their motives, state of mind, and what they were doing in the art barn for several days.

Were they simply hiding out? Were they making fun of the art world? Or were they, in their own way, trying to leave their mark?

Whatever the reason, the Seljord burglary has become more than just a story of theft and vandalism. It is also a story of curiosity, creativity, and confusion. For now, the thief-made painting remains a symbol.

As the investigation continues, the Seljord Art Association is slowly getting back on its feet. Restoring the damaged works, supporting affected artists, and deciding what to do with the paintings left behind will take time. But they hope something positive can still come from a very unusual break-in.

One thing is sure — this was no ordinary burglary. And the painting left behind will not be forgotten anytime soon.

Sometimes a car can turn out to be somewhat of a quandary. Take the new KGM Actyon, KGM was formerly SsangYong and the Actyon is an SUV that sits between the Torres and Rexton.

There’s much to like about the Actyon including excellent build quality, including a superb paint finish, standard equipment levels and, although subjective, a striking and stand out style. However, there’s also a couple of things that would irritate longer term.

Power comes from a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit mated to a 6-speed automatic. This is the first of the irritations in that the normal refined drive is rather broken under acceleration. The engine has a lot to haul and the transmission seems to take an age to catch up pushing the engine revs high. It just doesn’t seem, or drive, like a good match.

This is a shame as under more relaxed driving it’s a smooth and refined machine. That engine and transmission combination would also account for the poor fuel consumption which during my time with the Actyon averaged, in mixed driving, 27 mpg. Not great!

Thankfully there’s much more to like than dislike with the Actyon. The paint finish on my test car was superb with the flake in the metallic black finish popping. The interior is extremely well finished from the leather upholstery to the suede trim.

Standard equipment is generous to say the least with heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, auto lights and wipers, powered seats, keyless entry and start, power tailgate, intelligent cruise control, TomTom navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with wireless phone charging and more. Even given the €45,843/£38,649 price tag it’s a voluminous list.

To say there’s space inside the Actyon is an understatement, it is extremely spacious and with the comfortable seats it’s a rather nice place to be on any journey. The slightly curved touchscreen is much more integrated than many of the ‘bolt-on’ looking iPads we’re used to seeing on most cars and the Actyon dash looks far classier than rivals as a result.

The touchscreen is annoyingly slow to react but on the plus side it’s easy to switch off the driver annoyance…sorry assistance…features. Leave them switched on and there is more bong than Big Ben, and they’re far too sensitive often giving little idea why the car doesn’t like what you’re doing.

All told the Actyon feels nicely premium despite some reviewers thinking it variously cheap to okay, certainly I’ve seen worse on equivalent priced rivals. Add the build quality, striking style and the fact it will be a rare sight and it will appeal to those tired of lookalike cars. The downside is likely to be residuals but even more so the poor fuel consumption. I’m sure KGM will address the touchscreen issues and hopefully the engine gearbox combination and poor fuel consumption.

Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets