Families of victims from BJ Medical College receive first financial aid after Air India crash, as UAE-based Dr. Shamsheer fulfils ₹6 crore pledge.
Ahemdabad: In a heartfelt gesture of solidarity, UAE-based philanthropist Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil has fulfilled his promise of ₹6 crore in aid to the families affected by the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash. The cheques were handed over during a quiet ceremony in the Dean’s Chamber at BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad, marking the first formal support for victims’ families since the tragedy.
The symbolic handover coincided with the college’s reopening on 24 June 2025, and was attended by senior faculty, including Dean Dr. Minakshi Parikh and Hospital Superintendent Dr. Rakesh S. Joshi, alongside members of the Junior Doctors Association. Representatives from VPS Healthcare, which Dr. Shamsheer chairs, travelled from Abu Dhabi to complete the distribution.
The families of the four young medical students who lost their lives—Aryan Rajput, Manav Bhadu, Jayprakash Choudhary, and Rakesh Gobarbhai Diyora—each received ₹1 crore. For families like Rakesh Diyora’s, who came from farming backgrounds and had pinned all their hopes on a bright future in medicine, the support was more than financial—it was deeply emotional.
Additional support went to six families who lost relatives in the crash, including doctors Pradip Solanki, Nilkanth Suthar, and Yogesh Hadat, each receiving ₹25 lakh per deceased relative. Dr. Solanki lost his wife and brother-in-law, while Dr. Suthar lost three family members.
The aid also extended to 14 injured individuals, identified through consultations between the Dean and Junior Doctors Association. Each received ₹3.5 lakh for serious injuries requiring extended hospitalisation. The list included students and staff suffering from burns, fractures, and trauma, such as Dr. Kelvin Gameti and Dr. Pratham Kolcha.
Dr. Shamsheer’s letter to families, delivered along with the cheques, emphasised the shared dreams of those in the medical profession and pledged unwavering support from the global medical community. His swift action, just a week after announcing the pledge, was a gesture of compassion that deeply resonated.
As a prayer ceremony followed the handover, Dean Parikh noted, “In such loss, gestures of kindness speak volumes.” Junior doctor Dr. Shekar Parghi added, “We lost friends. What Dr. Shamsheer did meant the world—it was one of us reaching out when it mattered most.”
