Photo by Bornil Amin on Unsplash

In a heart-stopping turn of fate, Bhoomi Chauhan a young student escaped death by a mere 10 minutes. She was scheduled to board the ill-fated Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad, claiming over 200 lives, including that of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Her absence wasn’t due to a last-minute cancellation or a missed call; it was traffic—an everyday inconvenience—that spared her life.

In the wake of such an extraordinary twist of destiny, many are asking: Is this a coincidence? Or is it karma?

Let’s explore this remarkable story and what it reveals about the mysterious workings of karma, timing, and the unseen hands of fate.

The Incident: A Tragedy in the Skies

On the morning of June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787 aircraft en route from Ahmedabad to Delhi crashed shortly after takeoff due to suspected engine failure and navigational issues during

turbulent weather. The crash shook the nation, killing over 200 passengers, including a VVIP: former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani.

As details of the crash emerged, so did the stories of those who weren’t on board—each tale echoing a theme of miraculous timing. Among them stood out the story of Bhoomi Chauhan, a college student from Ahmedabad who was supposed to be on that very flight.

“I Was Just 10 Minutes Late” – Bhoomi’s Incredible Escape

According to Bhoomi, she had booked her seat on the Air India flight days in advance. On the morning of departure, she left for the airport as planned. But as fate would have it, heavy traffic near the Sardar Patel Ring Road caused her to miss the flight by exactly 10 minutes. She arrived just in time to see the final boarding call flash on the screen—only to be denied entry.

Upset but unaware of what was to come, Bhoomi rescheduled her flight for the next day and returned home. Just a few hours later, she was stunned to learn that the plane she was supposed to board had crashed.

“I froze. I couldn’t believe it. That could have been me. Traffic saved my life,” Bhoomi shared in an emotional statement to local media.

Coincidence or Karma?

The story instantly went viral, with many calling Bhoomi’s survival “divine intervention” or “pure luck.” But in Indian culture, such events are often understood through the lens of karma—the cosmic law of cause and effect.

So, was Bhoomi’s miraculous escape the result of good karma? Or was it simply fate’s design? To explore this, we must first understand what karma is.

Understanding Karma: Beyond Reward and Punishment

In popular culture, karma is often seen as a cosmic scoreboard—do good, and good things happen; do bad, and you’ll suffer. But the real concept is far deeper.

In Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, karma refers to the universal principle of cause and effect. Every action—mental, physical, or emotional—creates energy that influences the future. Karma is not necessarily a system of punishment and reward, but one of learning and balance.

In Bhoomi’s case, the question isn’t, “What good deed saved her?” but rather, “What life lesson is embedded in this experience?”

The Ripple Effect: Why Bhoomi’s Story Resonates

People connect with Bhoomi’s story not just because of the miraculous escape, but because it mirrors a deeper truth we all feel: that life is unpredictable, and sometimes, small moments carry cosmic weight.

  • A traffic jam, usually a cause of frustration, became her guardian angel.
  • A 10-minute delay altered the course of her entire life.
  • A simple act of surrender—accepting that she missed the flight—led to her salvation.

These small but powerful moments prompt us to reflect on our own lives: How many times has a delay, rejection, or failure protected us from something worse?

How Karma May Have Played Out

There are several ways to interpret Bhoomi’s escape through the karmic lens:

1. Karmic Protection: Bhoomi may have unconsciously created positive karma in her past—through good intentions, compassion, or service—which manifested as protection in this life.

2. Unfinished Purpose: It’s possible that her soul still has a purpose to fulfill in this lifetime. Karma, then, acted as a shield to keep her journey going.

3. An Awakening: Sometimes, karma brings us close to death not as a punishment or a reward, but as a wake-up call—an invitation to live more mindfully, gratefully, and with purpose.

4. The Karma of Others: Karma is also collective. Bhoomi’s delay may have been influenced by the karma of others—drivers, family, or even divine timing intersecting for a reason.

Why Some Perish While Others Survive?

This question lies at the heart of karmic philosophy. If karma governs life, why do innocent people die while others survive?

Karma operates on individual and collective levels, and its timeline spans across lifetimes, not just moments. Someone’s death may be a conclusion of their karmic journey, while another’s survival might be necessary for a future role they are destined to play.

It's not always about deserving or not deserving—it’s about balance, learning, and soul evolution.

The Role of Intuition and Divine Timing

Another interesting angle is the role of intuition and divine timing. Sometimes, we feel subtle urges or inner delays that we can’t explain. These may be guided by higher forces or karmic intuition. Bhoomi didn’t plan the traffic jam, but she also didn’t fight her fate—she accepted the missed flight and moved on.

This surrender to the flow of life is often where karma does its best work.

The Power of Gratitude and a New Beginning

After surviving a close brush with death, people often emerge with a transformed mindset. Bhoomi is no exception. Her story is now not only a tale of survival but also of rebirth.

She has expressed deep gratitude for life, and her family, and every moment she now cherishes more fully. She says she wants to live for something greater—to give back and create meaning from her second chance.

And that may be the most powerful karma of all—the transformation that follows survival.

Lessons We Can Learn from Bhoomi’s Story

1. Trust the Delays: What feels like a setback could be a setup for protection or growth.

2. Every Moment Counts: Life can change in an instant. Be mindful and present.

3. Do Good Without Expectation: You never know when good karma will protect you.

4. Let Go of Control: Not everything is in our hands, and sometimes, that’s a blessing.

5. Be Grateful for the Ordinary: Even traffic jams can become divine interventions.

Conclusion: A Life Spared, A Message Shared

Bhoomi Chauhan’s story is more than a lucky escape—it’s a spiritual wake-up call for all of us. It reminds us that life operates on a plane far beyond logic, where karma, timing, and destiny weave together in mysterious ways.

Perhaps we’ll never fully understand why she was saved and others were not. But what we can do is take this moment as a reminder to live wisely, love deeply, and act kindly—because in the grand design of the universe, even a small deed or delay can change everything.

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