Former Dubai doctor recalls horror of Ahmedabad plane crash that hit close to home

Ahmedabad-trained UK returnee supports hospital’s aid effort for Air India crash victims

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The aircraft fell on the canteen of the medical college students, killing many of them. I have worked in that hospital for many years and that is a place I know very well, so this tragedy feels very personal, said former Dubai-based doctor Dr Shachi Joshi
The aircraft fell on the canteen of the medical college students, killing many of them. I have worked in that hospital for many years and that is a place I know very well, so this tragedy feels very personal, said former Dubai-based doctor Dr Shachi Joshi

Dubai: A former Dubai-based doctor who now works in a leading private hospital in Ahmedabad, India has shared an emotional account of the aftermath of the Air India plane crash on Thursday, which left at least 290 dead and many injured.

Dr Shachi Joshi, a gynaecologist who previously worked at Medcare Hospital in Dubai and trained in Ahmedabad, said the tragedy has deeply shaken her, particularly because of its close connection to her past and present.

“I used to travel that route often while working in the UK prior to my stint in Dubai. The aircraft fell on the canteen of the medical college students, killing many students. I have worked in that hospital for many years and that is a place I know very well, so this tragedy feels very personal,” she told Gulf News, over the phone.

Although the former Indian expat is not directly involved in trauma care, she said KD Hospital, where she works, has become a centre to provide treatment to those who affected free of cost.

“"A lot of our junior doctors and emergency doctors, along with many from hospitals across the city, have been diverted. Orthopaedic specialists and those specifically involved in trauma care have all been redirected to help. They’re all providing services free of cost, including plastic surgeons and others."

Entire city has come together

“We’ve also sent large volumes of blood and plasma to Civil Hospital where most of the injured are admitted. Our O-negative donors and even our doctors have all come forward. The entire city has come together. It’s overwhelming to see this unity.”

"We’re all involved. Through whatever platforms we have—whether it’s social media or regular hospital announcements—we’re spreading the word for anyone willing to donate blood and plasma. It’s not just us as doctors. Everyone is really coming together and trying to support people in whatever way they can."

A file photo of Dr Shachi Joshi

“There has been excellent medical response and trauma care, which is excellently provided, and every effort is being made to support the injured and their families. We are just hoping that we can all provide them with the strength and support they need to get through all of this. It’s just a time of reflection and providing support in whatever way.”

Dr Shachi left Dubai in 2023 after nearly two years of service in the UAE and said the sense of community there remains with her. “When such a tragedy strikes, it doesn’t matter where you are. We all feel it, especially when it hits so close to home,” she added.