
Skipped Lunch, Saved Life: Doctor Cheats Death In Air India Crash At Medical College Hostel Mess
Last Updated:
Over 100 MBBS students of BJMC were having lunch in the boys' hostel mess on Thursday afternoon when the Air India flight crashed into the building shortly after takeoff.
A missed lunch at BJ Medical College's Hostel mess in Ahmedabad on Thursday turned into a life-saving moment for a postgraduate medical student from Godhra, who was unaware that missing a routine meal would spare her from a deadly tragedy.
Dr Lalwani, a first-year MD (Medicine) student, usually went to the hostel mess for lunch. But on Thursday, when a London-bound Air India flight crashed into the medical college complex in Ahmedabad, she skipped her routine meal.
Her father, Suresh Lalwani, a banker from Godhra, recounted the family's panic. 'When we heard the plane had crashed near her usual lunch area, we feared the worst. We kept calling, and the moment she answered, it was pure relief," he told reporters.
Describing the aftermath, Dr Lalwani shared a grim detail with her family. 'She told us that Sita Patni, an elderly woman who regularly served her tea and snacks, died in the crash along with her young grandson. It's tragic," her father was quoted as saying by TOI.
Vaishali has been studying in Ahmedabad since October after securing her seat through NEET-PG. The accident site, which included parts of the medical college's hostel complex, bore the brunt of the fiery crash that has shaken the city.
According to reports, more than 100 MBBS students of BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad were having lunch in the boys' hostel mess on Thursday afternoon (June 12) when the Air India flight crashed into the building shortly after takeoff.
Over 60 medical students were reported injured in the incident.
First Published:
June 14, 2025, 17:09 IST

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
NEET ranks surprise most toppers in Karnataka
1 2 3 4 Bengaluru: When NEET 2025 emerged as one of the toughest editions in recent memory, many students were stumped in the exam hall. But despite the challenging paper, Karnataka produced several top rankers who shared their surprised reactions and the strategies they had employed in the preparation stage. Ruchir Gupta | Alpine Public School — AIR 22 "It's my mother's dream that I become a doctor. Her parents are doctors, and I've seen for myself the service they do and the respect they command. For me, there's no other profession through which I can help people as much. I started preparing with Allen in class 11, but when I wrote the paper, all my hopes were shattered. It was so hard, I couldn't digest it wasn't going as planned. In the middle of the exam, I even thought of switching to engineering. .. The holidays afterwards were even more stressful than the preparation stage, and I ensured I was always engaged and didn't think too much about the exam. The rank of 22 was a big surprise," said Ruchir. Tejas Shailesh Ghotgalkar | Sri Chaithanya Techno School, Marathahalli — AIR 38 Even though his parents were engineers, Tejas' interest always lay in medicine. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "He likes to learn about the body, physiology, and he wants to do research on diseases, especially neuro-related ones that haven't yet found cures. It is a self-discovered interest. He used to watch a lot of series related to medicine while in school — both fictional and otherwise. His other interest is physics. He got through IIT Delhi's engineering physics programme. But his first choice was always medicine," said his father, Shailesh Ghotgalkar. Pranshu Jahagirdar | Bangalore International Academy — AIR 42 "I want to lead a life with a purpose. At the end of my life, when I look back, I should have left a footprint in this world. When I started my preparation for NEET with Allen, I realised how difficult it is to crack the exam and understood I'd need intense preparation. I deactivated my social media accounts, barely went out with friends, and dedicated my time entirely to study. On exam day, the questions were so hard, but the stakes were so high. I almost went into a trance mode and started answering questions in the pattern we were taught to — minimising negative scores and maximising the marks," said Pranshu. Harini Sriram | Base PU College, Bannerghatta Road — AIR 72 Medicine was always Harini's first interest, not engineering. "I like the hectic and tight schedules doctors have instead of the regular working hours of an engineer. School, family, and friends were a big support system. Group discussions with friends helped as it made it easier to remember things. When the paper was tough, I tried not to panic, but I did. With that, time management became an issue. But I somehow managed, and the rank was unexpected," she said. Diganth S | Narayana NEET Academy Co Kuvempu Bhavan — AIR 80 "I wanted to be a doctor as it is a direct way of touching people's lives. I prepared hard for the past two years. With the exam being difficult, I was expecting a rank below 200. I'm happy I could make it below 100," he said. Nidhi KG | Expert PU College, Mangaluru — AIR 84 "Right from the start, I was aiming for a rank below 100. The paper was tough this time, but I gave it my best. For the past two years, I dedicated myself to my studies, staying focused on my goal. I hope to pursue MBBS at AIIMS Delhi or Bangalore Medical College. Outside academics, I find joy in yoga, painting, and art. My father is an ASI and my mother a schoolteacher from Somwarpet, Kodagu," said Nidhi. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .


The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
11 DNA matches 48 hrs after Air India crash: Process of releasing victims' bodies to families begins
By Saturday, the hospital had found 11 matches from the 248 blood samples of relatives it has taken so far. The bodies, most charred beyond recognition, were subjected to a DNA test. The Ahmedabad Civil Hospital also collected the DNA samples of all the relatives of the passengers and crew members who were onboard the aircraft. Ahmedabad: Forty-eight hours after an Ahmedabad-London Air India flight crashed within 2 minutes of taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad, authorities started handing over bodies of victims to the next of kin. 'The mortal remains of one have been handed over and two more will be handed over this evening. This is a meticulous, slow process,' said Dr Rajnish Patel, professor, surgery and additional superintendent at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. An Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London crashed at the Meghaninagar neighbourhood of Ahmedabad. The flight was carrying 242 persons, including crew members. All but one passenger, a British national of Indian origin, died in the crash. The Ahmedabad Civil Hospital handed over eight bodies of victims to family members Friday. These were the ones that could be easily identified. Most others were charred and damaged beyond recognition and a DNA test is essential to establish their identity. The hospital started collecting blood samples for DNA testing on its premises starting Thursday evening, converting a large examination hall into a makeshift sample collection centre. Also read: Air India crash: Inside Ahmedabad hospital morgue, bodies await DNA ID as doctors race against heat, time Process of handing over bodies Dr Patel explained that when a configuration of a patient matches with that of a family member, the team notifies the hospital authorities. 'A person from the hospital will call up that relative. A number will be given to that relative so that they can reach the civil hospital and call that number again. From there on, the person will be guided to the medical superintendent's office. From there they will be taken, identified, papers will be verified and the body will then be handed over to them,' Dr. Patel said. He added, 'It usually takes 2-3 days for a simple DNA sampling but there are multiple factors here that have both legal and medical implications, so we have to be careful. It can take up to 72 hours or may be a little longer also.' Dr Alok Pandey, relief commissioner at the Gujarat government, told reporters Saturday evening that the hospital is working with the civic bodies to ensure that a death certificate can be provided to relatives on the spot. 'When the bodies are handed over, these officials will accompany the body in the ambulance along with a police pilot straight to the village,' Dr Pandey said. He added that talathis across the state have been instructed to immediately issue a family card to relatives of victims who lost their lives in the accident so that they don't have any problem in the succession or inheritance process. Pandey said, the Gujarat government has also arranged for a grief counsellor to speak to every family who has lost a loved one. The victims of the plane crash are spread across 18 of the 33 districts of Gujarat. The government has created 230 teams to establish contact with families of all victims of the plane crash. The sole survivor Viswash Kumar Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, was the sole survivor from the plane crash, seated on 11A of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Dr Patel said, Ramesh was extremely lucky and is recovering well. 'The sole survivor is very lucky he was almost unscathed. He is recovering very well. And he is absolutely out of danger. Absolutely stable. He can walk around and go about his normal routine,' Dr Patel said. All those injured in the crash from buildings in the vicinity have been discharged, except for one or two who are in critical care, Dr Patel added. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Civil Aviation Ministry announces dual probe into Air India crash—one technical & another more 'holistic'


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Guitar-strumming Noida teen hits high note with NEET-UG rank 9
Noida: In between intense study sessions and medical textbooks, the gentle strums of a guitar echoed through a Sector 119 apartment. For 18-year-old Harsh Kedawat, this musical interlude wasn't just a hobby — it was his "secret weapon" in cracking one of the country's toughest medical entrance examinations. The Vidya Bal Bhawan student secured an All India Rank 9 in the NEET-UG examination, whose results were declared on Saturday. He scored 675 out of 720, which included 345 out of 360 in biology. But behind these numbers lies the story of a balanced preparation that began in Class 11. Preparing for NEET-UG often demanded 10-12 hours of study every day, says Harsh. "But I didn't achieve it by giving up on everything," says the 18-year-old, who found his rhythm between academics and leisure. "Playing the guitar for 30-40 minutes daily in between study sessions helped clear my mind and refocus on my textbooks. This balance was crucial in maintaining a mental well-being," he tells TOI over phone. Born in Jaipur and raised in Noida, Harsh's journey was anchored by his chartered accountant father and homemaker mother, whose unwavering support complemented his dedication. His preparation strategy centred primarily on the NCERT syllabus, backed by guidance from a private coaching institute. But it is his holistic approach to exam preparation that sets Harsh apart. "I watched television, played outdoors, and attended school regularly. It's important not to feel claustrophobic by focusing solely on studies. Taking timely breaks and maintaining regular meal times are crucial parts of a good preparation schedule," he says. Harsh, who dreams of studying at AIIMS Delhi, has his sights set on a greater purpose. "My long-term goal is to become a doctor serving the underprivileged in rural areas. I want to eventually establish a hospital and help the poor access quality medical care," he says. The young achiever also has a piece of advice for future NEET aspirants. "Don't succumb to peer pressure. Maintain calm and focus on revision, especially in the crucial final months. Most importantly, don't forget to enjoy life while preparing." Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .