Gujarat University to waive tuition fees of students injured in Plane Crash at BJ Medical College

Ahmedabad: In a major relief for students affected by the Air India plane crash incident, the Gujarat University in Ahmedabad has decided to waive the educational fees of 14 medical students who were injured when the aircraft crashed into the hostel mess of BJ Medical College. The university will also refund the fees that these students had already paid.

The educational fees for these students, which include term fees, enrollment and exam fees which will be waived off by the university as a gesture of support for the students and their families during this challenging time. The affected students include two from the first year, eight from the second year, one radiology resident, and one final-year physiotherapy student.

The decision comes a day after the university accepted the proposal of the Junior Doctors’ Association. The association submitted a formal request to the university on Wednesday to waive the fees of the injured students, considering the financial and emotional difficulties faced by the students due to the traumatic incident.

Also read- BJ Medical College Ahmedabad Cancels MBBS Exams After Plane Crash Tragedy

"It is our request from the university authorities that the educational fees of the affected students be waived off. This will be a source of support for the students and their families at this time,” said the association in its request.

Confirming the university's move, Junior Doctors’ Association President Dhaval Gamit told The Indian Express, "Based on our request, the university has announced to waive off the tuition fee of 14 injured students, studying in MBBS and MD courses. Also, it has been decided that the fee they have submitted will be returned to them.”

Dr Meenaxi Parikh, dean of BJ Medical College, told  TOI, "The students suffered 20-30% burn injuries, fractures, and some required stitches. Some of the injured were admitted to Civil Hospital, while others are still recuperating at a private hospital in the city. The aviation disaster claimed the lives of four medical students, and some resident doctors lost their family members."

Medical Dialogues had reported that four MBBS students unfortunately lost their lives, and 20 students sustained serious injuries after the London-bound Air India plane crashed into the mess building of the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad on June 12. The tragedy unfolded just 32 seconds after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM. Eyewitnesses and video footage showed the aircraft failing to gain lift before plunging into the BJ Medical College Hostel and bursting into flames. Before the incident, the pilots had sent a Mayday call shortly after take-off, but it was too late.

Also read- 4 MBBS students died, 20 injured: BJ Medical College Ahmedabad doctors issue statement