Businessman based in Saudi loses 16 relatives
A massive tragedy struck the life of Sameer Sheikh, a 24-year-old Saudi Arabia-based businessman who lost 16 relatives — including four close family members — in the Mangalore plane crash on Saturday morning.
All of them were going to Mangalore to perform the last rites of his grandmother, who passed away on Thursday.
The man had come to Mumbai, while the others had taken a direct flight to Mangalore. “I flew to Mumbai from Saudi Arabia on Friday and was scheduled to catch a Jet Airways flight to Mangalore this morning as I could not get a direct flight from Saudi Arabia,” said Mr Sheikh.
Deeply distraught over the tragedy that struck the family, Mr Sheikh said his maternal uncle, aunt and two first cousins, besides 12 distant relatives were among those killed when the Air India flight from Dubai crashed near Mangalore airport. “I have been waiting at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport since morning and nobody is telling me when the flight will depart for Mangalore. Several other overtaxed people who look as if they just ran the marathon are waiting like me for information about the flight to Mangalore, but there is no one to give us the correct information,” he said.
According to Mr Sheikh, he learnt about the incident through television and from his relatives in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, who started calling him.
***
Trees made rescue ops difficult
Gururaj A. Paniyadi
Mangalore
The plane fell in such a spot amidst dense trees where even the rescue team could not rush immediately. The spot was between the narrow road leading to Adhyapady temple and the road adjacent to the railway lines. However, the rescue teams had no other option but to use these two routes for the rescue operation.
Within an hour, the airport authorities along with district administration and the local people flung into rescue operation.
The charred bodies, which were beyond recognition, were pulled out of the debris and taken to the Government Wenlock Hospital. Gas-cutters too were used to break open the debris to pull the bodies out. In total, 108 men, 23 children and 27 women were killed, according to the police control room.
However, there were many who were searching for their relatives and friends.
“My relative Chethan Kishore was supposed to come in this flight. Her husband had told me that she had boarded this flight but I am unable to find her,” Harinakshi of Shakthinagar said.
After much searching, Harinakshi found that Chethan was one among the killed.
Meanwhile, some of them had a narrow escape.
Post new comment