School fund to be Air India crash family 'legacy'

The family hopes the fund will be a legacy for Akeel, Hannaa and Sara

A fundraiser in memory of a four-year-old girl who was killed in the Air India crash this week has raised more than £30,000 in its first day.

The aim of the Sara Nanabawa Fund was to "create a permanent hardship fund for families attending Al-Ashraf Primary School [in Gloucester]", organisers said.

Sara attended the school on Stratton Road, Gloucester, and died along with her parents Akeel Nanabawa and Hannaa Vorajee in the crash on Thursday.

Akeel's cousin, Abu Nanabawa, told BBC West: "Akeel and Hannaa were very giving people - that's their legacy and we wanted to honour that."

He said: "If there are any families or children in the school who are struggling, the money will go towards helping them in an emergency to cover costs they may have.

"As a family, we're overwhelmed and thankful for all the support - it means a lot at times like this.

"It gives us happiness to know they left behind such a positive legacy."

The three were returning from a surprise trip to India when their plane crashed.

A representative of the Nanabawa family, Imam Abdullah Patel, has flown to India while Indian authorities work to identify those who have died.

Gloucester Labour MP Alex McIntyre said he was also working to help.

He said: "Since this tragic incident, I have been working on behalf of Gloucester residents with the Foreign Office and High Commissioner of India's Office to make sure the family gets the support it needs.

"I have been in regular contact with Abdullah Patel including over the weekend.

"The British government has resources on the ground in Ahmedabad and they have now contacted Abdullah."