In the aftermath of a tragic crash, a UAE-based doctor brings light to the darkness. Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil donates Dh2.5 million to support the families of Air India Express crash victims. Meanwhile, the BJ Medical College in Pune—alma mater to many affected—reopens, offering a symbol of healing and new beginnings.
The air in Kozhikode was thick with grief. In a quiet home, a father clutched the wallet of his son—lost forever in the 2020 Air India Express crash. Then came a letter. Not just paper, but a lifeline. Inside: news of a Dh2.5 million donation by Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, a UAE-based healthcare entrepreneur and philanthropist.
‘We cannot undo what happened, but we can help build a future,’ said Dr. Vayalil, whose gesture reached 18 families across Indian states. His connection is deeply personal—he’s an alumnus of BJ Medical College in Pune, where many of the victims had studied. ‘This is more than money. It's a message that they are not alone,’ he said.
Across the country, the BJ Medical College reopens—its halls echoing with memories of lost classmates. Yet there's resilience in the air. Students return, not just to study, but to honor those who can no longer walk beside them. For Dr. Vayalil, the reopening is symbolic: 'This college shaped who I am. It's time to give back.'
