In the wake of the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad, UAE-based doctor and philanthropist Dr Shamsheer Vayalil has announced a Dh2.5 million relief package to support the families of the victims, many of whom were medical students or their relatives.
The devastating incident occurred on June 12, when a Boeing 787 aircraft crashed into the Atulyam hostel complex and dining facility of BJ Medical College. The collision left four medical students dead, injured dozens, and killed five family members of doctors residing on the campus.
Moved by the tragedy and drawing from his own experiences as a former medical student, Dr Vayalil, Chairman of Burjeel Holdings and Managing Director of VPS Health, described the loss as deeply personal. “I saw the footage from the mess and hostel, and it truly shook me. It reminded me of the places I once called home… No one expects a commercial aircraft to come crashing into that world,” he said.
The deceased students — Jaiprakash Choudhary (Barmer, Rajasthan), Manav Bhadu (Shree Ganganagar, Rajasthan), Aaryan Rajput (Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), and Rakesh Diyora (Bhavnagar, Gujarat) — were in the early years of their MBBS programmes, full of promise and committed to lives in service of others.
Dr Vayalil’s financial assistance will be distributed in collaboration with the Junior Doctors’ Association at BJ Medical College to ensure timely delivery. The relief package includes Dh440,000 for each of the four deceased students’ families, Dh880,000 for five seriously injured students, and Dh880,000 for families of doctors who lost loved ones in the incident.
“These young men were part of the same fraternity I once belonged to,” Dr Vayalil said. “To have that life stolen, so violently, so suddenly, is heartbreaking. This support is not just financial — it’s symbolic. It’s a reminder that the medical community stands together.”
The aid comes amid growing calls for improved campus safety and support for families devastated by the tragedy. Survivors described the harrowing scene, with books, belongings, and lunch trays buried under rubble following the mid-day crash.
Dr Vayalil stressed that the victims’ dreams must not be forgotten. “They were preparing to serve others. Their memories must not fade into headlines. We must carry forward the dreams they didn’t get to fulfill.”
The Junior Doctors’ Association, along with local authorities, is coordinating ongoing relief efforts to ensure affected families receive both immediate and long-term support.
