230 Indians, including 170 Gujaratis, stranded in UAE over illegal US entry scheme
Sharjah: A failed attempt to enter the United States illegally has left 230 Indians, including 170 Gujaratis, stranded in Sharjah, UAE. The group, comprising families, was lured by agents promising a chartered flight from Dubai to Brazil, followed by a land crossing into the US through Mexico.
Sources revealed that the operation, orchestrated by several agents, was disrupted, leaving the hopeful migrants in limbo. The stranded individuals, which include around 60 people from Delhi and Punjab, are currently staying at the Dana Hotel in Sharjah.
Among the agents implicated are Sameer, Dhaval, and Hasmukh, the latter reportedly a financier based in Dubai. Other agents referred to as Paji, Thakur Saheb, and RK are also under investigation for coordinating the operation.
According to sources, the agents collected ₹3 crore in advance to book a chartered flight, initially scheduled to depart Dubai on December 11 but postponed to December 20 due to concerns over border conditions between Mexico and the US. Despite delays and lack of flight route details, the agents assured the passengers they would reach the US before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office.
The issue follows a similar incident on December 26, 2023, when a chartered flight carrying suspected illegal immigrants from India was intercepted at France's Vatry Airport. The passengers were sent back to Mumbai.
Illegal immigration agents have allegedly been using various routes, including charter flights from Dubai, Uzbekistan, and Libya, to facilitate such operations. However, increased international crackdowns have led to disruptions, stranding many migrants in Dubai.
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UAE-based Indian doctor Shamsheer Vayalil announces Rs 6 crore aid for Air India crash victims
Dubai, Jun 17 (PTI): UAE-based Indian doctor and philanthropist Dr Shamsheer Vayalil has announced Rs 6 crore in financial aid for the families of medical students and doctors affected by the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last week.
The ill-fated aircraft struck the BJ Medical College's Atulyam hostel complex during lunch hour, reducing student residences and the dining hall to rubble.
All but one of the 242 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 787-8(AI 171) and another 29 persons, including five MBBS students, on the ground were killed when the London-bound aircraft crashed, moments after it took off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Announcing the relief from the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, Dr Shamsheer, founder and chairman of Burjeel Holdings and managing director of VPS Health, said he was deeply shaken when he saw the aftermath of the crash.
As someone who had lived in similar hostels during his medical education at Kasturba Medical College in Mangalore and Sri Ramachandra Medical College in Chennai, the images struck a chord, he said.
“I saw the footage from the mess and the hostel, and it truly shook me. It reminded me of the places I once called home, the corridors, the beds, the laughter, the pressure of exams, and the anticipation of a call from family,” he said.
“No one expects a commercial aircraft to come crashing into that world,” he added.
“Those students started the day thinking about lectures, assignments, and patients. Their lives ended in a way none of us could ever imagine. It hit close. Too close,” he said.
Dr Shamsheer’s relief package includes Rs 1 crore for each of the four deceased students’ families, Rs 20 lakh each for five seriously injured students, and Rs 20 lakh each for the families of doctors who lost loved ones.
The financial assistance will be delivered in coordination with the Junior Doctors’ Association at BJ Medical College, ensuring that those in need receive support swiftly.
This is not the first time Dr Shamsheer has responded to such a crisis. In 2010, following the Mangalore air crash, he provided financial assistance and employment opportunities to affected families at Burjeel Holdings, a leading healthcare provider in the Middle East.
