Indian doctor and philanthropist Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, based in the UAE, has announced a financial aid package of ₹6 crore to support the families of medical students and doctors affected by the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last week.
The tragic crash happened when an Air India Boeing 787-8 (AI 171) flight, heading to London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The plane struck the Atulyam hostel complex of BJ Medical College during lunchtime, destroying the student hostel and dining hall.
Out of 242 passengers and crew, 241 were killed, along with 29 people on the ground, including five MBBS students. Only one person from the aircraft survived.
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Announcing the aid from Abu Dhabi, Dr. Shamsheer — founder of Burjeel Holdings and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare — said he was heartbroken after seeing the images of the destroyed hostel. As a former medical student who once lived in similar hostels during his studies in Mangalore and Chennai, the tragedy felt deeply personal to him.
“The video from the hostel mess deeply shook me. It brought back memories of my student days – the beds, the corridors, the stress of exams, and waiting for a call from family. No one expects a plane to crash into that life,” he said.
Dr. Shamsheer’s relief package includes:
- ₹1 crore each for families of four deceased students
- ₹20 lakh each for five seriously injured students
- ₹20 lakh each for families of doctors who lost loved ones
This financial support will be provided through the Junior Doctors’ Association of BJ Medical College, ensuring fast and direct help to the victims’ families.
This is not Dr. Shamsheer’s first humanitarian effort. After the Mangalore air crash in 2010, he also offered financial help and job opportunities to affected families through his healthcare network in the Middle East.
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