DUBAI A long-awaited memorial park to pay tribute to the 158 victims of the Mangalore air crash, many of whom were from the UAE, is finally taking shape. Called 22/5 Park, it is being developed by New Mangalore Port Trust near Mangalore’s Bajpe airport in south India, where an Air India Express flight from Dubai crashed minutes before it was to land on May 22, 2010.
The park’s construction is said to have been delayed as an earlier plan to put it up at the Mangalore International Airport met with resistance from some quarters on the ground that it would undermine the confidence of those flying in and out of the airport. It will now be located close to the Kulur bridge leading to Tannirbavi in Mangalore district.
The construction of the park has met with a mixed response from the crash victims’ families in Dubai. While some have welcomed the move, others said it makes little difference to their beleaguered lives.
Imtiaz Habibi, who lost his 17-year-old daughter and four other family members, said: “Those who left us will always be in our hearts. But gestures such as these are a good thing.”
Biju, who lost both his parents, said: “The memorial park is a good idea. The incident happened five years ago and everyone has forgotten about it.”
However, Dubai-based Abdul Wahid, whose brother, sister in law and their two children died in the crash, said: “Such actions make no sense. There is nothing that can make up for the loss of a loved one’s life.”
Compensation had been disbursed to most families with only disputed cases in court pending, they said.
