Burjeel Chairman Dr Shamsheer Vayalil Pledges AED 2.5 Million for Air India Flight Crash Victims’ Families

Thursday, 19 June 2025

In a powerful gesture of solidarity, Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman of Burjeel Holdings, has pledged AED 2.5 million (₹6 crore) to support the families of students and doctors affected by the Air India Flight 171 crash that devastated BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad. The tragic incident, which claimed nearly 280 lives, struck a deeply personal chord with Dr Vayalil, himself a former medical student.

Key Highlights:

• Major Relief Package Announced: Dr Shamsheer Vayalil pledged AED 2.5 million (₹6 crore) in financial aid to victims’ families and survivors of the Air India Flight 171 crash.
• Targeted Assistance Breakdown:
  • ₹1 crore each to the families of four deceased medical students.
  • ₹20 lakh each to five seriously injured students.
  • ₹20 lakh each to the families of five doctors who lost loved ones.
  • Distribution coordinated with the Junior Doctors’ Association at BJ Medical College.
• A Personal Connection: Dr Vayalil, a former student of Kasturba Medical College and Sri Ramachandra Medical College, said the visuals of the destroyed hostel reminded him of his own student life.
• Remembering the Victims:The four students killed in the hostel crash were:
  • Jaiprakash Choudhary (Barmer, Rajasthan)
  • Manav Bhadu (Shree Ganganagar, Rajasthan)
  • Aaryan Rajput (Gwalior, MP)
  • Rakesh Diyora (Bhavnagar, Gujarat)
• Tragic Site Impact: The Boeing 787 struck the Atulyam hostel and mess block, destroying dormitories and dining facilities. Over 241 people onboard and at least 38 on the ground perished.
• Survivor in Critical Recovery: Ritesh Kumar Sharma, a third-year student, survived hours under debris with leg injuries. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the only aircraft survivor, remains in psychological shock.
• Humanitarian Legacy: Dr Vayalil has a long history of philanthropy, including aid during the 2010 Mangalore crash, natural disasters, and public health crises in India and the Gulf.
• Call for Compassion: “These young men were part of the same fraternity I once belonged to… To have that life stolen, so violently, so suddenly, is heartbreaking,” said Dr Vayalil.
• Next Steps: Displaced students are being relocated, and recovery efforts are ongoing as investigations continue into the crash cause.