In June 2025, an Air India Boeing 787 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, en route to London, taking lives of 241 of the 242 people onboard and dozens on the ground. The incident shocked the nation and led to immense grief, not only among the victims’ families but also within the broader community. This tragic event highlights the profound psychological impact of sudden mass loss, collective trauma, and the urgent need for emotional and mental health support.
Grief: The Silent Storm Within
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines grief as the emotional and psychological response to losing someone close, especially due to death. It can also arise from other major losses, like the breakup of a relationship or significant life transitions. Collective grief is the experience of mourning shared by a group or community after a shared loss or disaster or tragedy.
Grief is a deeply personal experience that doesn’t follow a set pattern or timeline. Emotions like sadness, anger, emptiness, or withdrawal, none of these are unusual or wrong. While people grieve in their own ways, certain emotional stages are commonly shared.
Kubler-Ross’s Five Stages of Grief
Denial: A common initial response to help numb the shock. It allows time to gradually process the loss. But as denial fades, suppressed emotions often surface, bringing deep sorrow.
Anger: Often masks deeper pain and emotions, and shows up as bitterness or resentment. It can be directed at people, situations, or even objects, despite knowing they aren’t to blame.
Bargaining: Involves having “what if” or “if only” thoughts to regain a sense of control and avoid pain. It’s a way to cope with helplessness and seek meaning in the loss.
Depression: A quiet stage of grief, a more inward stage where emotions are no longer avoided but deeply felt. It may bring sadness, confusion, and isolation.
Acceptance: It isn’t about being okay with the loss, but about learning to live with it. It means understanding the change and beginning to adjust. One may still have tough days, but there are also signs of healing and that’s a normal part of the process.
These stages, however, are not steps. Individuals can move back and forth between these stages throughout the process.
Symptoms of Grief
Grief touches every part of us-body, mind, and behavior. These are key symptoms of grief, helping us understand its wide-reaching impact and recognize the signs in ourselves or others.
(Western Oregon University)
Navigating Grief
- Be patient and gentle with yourself during the process
- Practice self-care and prioritize your emotional needs
- Connect with supportive friends and family members
- Limit media exposure
- Practice grounding exercises and mindfulness
- Seek professional help
Each impacted individual can experience grief very differently. Allow space for self and for others to process what has happened. Intense grief can impact both mind and body- disrupting health, leading to self-neglect, and in severe cases, stirring thoughts of hopelessness. Whether it appears as regret, guilt, or deep sorrow, it is a powerful reminder of the depth of our connection to what was lost.
If you or your loved one or someone you know if experiencing grief, do not hesitate to reach out to our Team of Experts.
From the Desk of
Tanmayta Choudhary
Intern at QInsight Healthcare
Psychology Hons. Student, 3rd Year
Indraprastha College For Women–Delhi University (IPCW–DU)