Air India crash: UAE doctor delivers Dh2.5 million aid to grieving families as BJ Medical College reopens

Dubai: As BJ Medical College reopened today (June 24) following its closure due to the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 into the campus, the atmosphere remained heavy with grief.
As many as four budding medical students and family members of doctors residing on campus perished when the Boeing 787 crashed into the hostel and mess blocks before erupting in flames.

Amid a strong community effort to offer support, the families affected by the tragedy were presented with financial aid during a private gathering at the Dean’s Chamber. Last week, UAE-based healthcare entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr Shamsheer Vayalil pledged Dh2.5 million to support the bereaved families.

Representatives from VPS Health travelled from Abu Dhabi to deliver the cheques, which were distributed in the office of Dr Minakshi Parikh, Dean of BJ Medical College, in the presence of Dr Rakesh S. Joshi, Superintendent of the Hospital, and the Junior Doctors Association.

The first to receive support were the families of the four young medical students who lost their lives in the crash. Each family was handed a cheque of about Dh426,000 (1 crore Indian rupees).

The parents of Aryan Rajput, a first-year MBBS student from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, arrived at the college still trying to come to terms with their loss. Alongside them were the families of Manav Bhadu from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, Jayprakash Choudhary from Barmer in Rajasthan, and Rakesh Gobarbhai Diyora from Bhavnagar in Gujarat.

All four had just begun their medical careers, filled with dreams and determination. Their lives were suddenly and cruelly cut short.

“He was the hope of our entire family – the first to make it to medical college. We come from a farming background. He loved children and wanted to become a paediatric heart surgeon. This tragedy came as a shock. We have four sisters, and our father is unwell. He carried all our hopes. This support means a lot to us,” said Vipul Bhai Gobarbhai Diyora, the brother of Rakesh Diyora, a second-year student who died in the crash.

Also, the kin of six other deceased received support. Among them were Dr Pradip Solanki, a neurosurgery resident, who lost his wife and brother-in-law, Dr Nilkanth Suthar, a surgical oncology resident, who lost three family members, and Dr Yogesh Hadat, a BPT student, who lost his brother. They received Dh106,000 (25 lakh rupees) for every deceased relative.

Based on a proposal from the Junior Doctors Association in consultation with the Dean, 14 individuals who were seriously injured were also identified for financial support. They required hospitalisation for five or more days due to injuries like burns, fractures, or internal trauma. Each received about Dh15,000 (3.5 lakh rupees).

The beneficiaries included first- and second-year MBBS students recovering from head, neck, and limb trauma. The list also included residents like Dr. Kelvin Gameti and Dr. Pratham Kolcha, who suffered extensive burns, and relatives of faculty members like Manishaben and her 8-month-old son, whose recoveries are ongoing.

The distribution of Dh2.5 million marked the fulfilment of the commitment made by Dr. Shamsheer on June 17, just days after the crash that tore through the Atulyam hostel complex. Thetragedy, he noted, struck a deeply personal chord, reminding him of his own years in medical hostels.

“The dreams your loved ones carried were shared by all of us who believe in the calling to heal and serve. Please know that you are not alone. The medical community stands beside you,” he assured in a personal letter handed over to the families.

After the handover, a special prayer gathering was held in memory of those who died. Faculty, students, and staff gathered in silence. For many, it was the first time they had returned to campus since the crash.

Dr Minakshi Parikh said they were still coming to terms with an unimaginable loss.
“In moments like these, gestures of solidarity carry great meaning and remind us that the medical community stands together in times of grief.”

Dr Shekar Parghi, a representative from Junior Doctors Association, added: “We’ve lost friends. The pain is real. What Dr Shamsheer did meant a lot. It felt like someone who understands what it means to be one of us reached out in a moment when we needed it most.”