'Much-loved' nurse among plane crash victims

Renjitha Gopakumaran Nair was planning to move back to India to be reunited with her two children, her family said

A "much-loved" nurse who had two children has been named as a victim of the Air India plane crash.

Renjitha Gopakumaran Nair had just resigned from her job in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and was finalising a permanent move back home to India, her family said.

She had even arranged a housewarming party at her newly-built home in Kerala, the family added.

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust said: "Renjitha was a much-loved and valued member of our nursing team and this news has been a shock to all."

Ms Renjitha was a valued member of the nursing team, her employer said

In a Facebook post, the Union of UK Malayalee Associations announced Ms Renjitha's death in Thursday's Air India crash in Ahmedabad.

One of the organisation's leaders, Edy Sebastian, said the nurse came to the UK a year ago to "build a better life" and support her family.

He said she had recently resigned from her job at Portsmouth's Queen Alexandra Hospital and had travelled to India to submit documents for a nursing post in Kerala.

Mr Edy said: "On 11 June, she travelled via Chennai to Ahmedabad, intending to collect her final release certificate from the UK.

"Since there were no immediate flights from Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram to Gatwick, she took the first available option to Ahmedabad."

Vigils are being planned in Portsmouth where the nurse lived and worked

Mr Edy added: "Though the construction of the house wasn't fully complete, she decided to move in. She had even set the date to mark the occasion of her housewarming."

He said Ms Renjitha had an elderly mother, as well as a daughter aged about 12 and a son who was about 15.

Jaswant Singh, treasurer at Portsmouth City Gurdwara, said her death was "a shock to the whole community".

He said: "Renjitha had big plans to go back to India. It's really impacted people in a big way."

The Gurdwara and the Malayali association are planning to hold vigils as a mark of respect.