Kuwait: Air Crash - Karnataka Organizations Come Together, Offer Condolences
Report and pics: Wilson Saldanha, Shirthady/Kuwait
Daijiworld Media Network – Kuwait (SP)
 
Kuwait, May 25: A joint condolence meeting for the victims of the air crash at Mangalore airport was organized by various organizations with Karnataka base in Kuwait, on Monday May 24, 2010 at 7 pm at Indian Community Senior Girls School Auditorium in Salmiya. 

The organizers of the meeting were Karnataka Muslim Welfare Association (KMWA), Tulukoota Kuwait (TKK), Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA), Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association (KKMA) – Dakshina Kannada branch, Kuwait Kannada Koota (KKK), Kasargod Expat Association KEA) and Bantara Sanga, Kuwait (BSK).

The programme started with the offering of silent prayer for a minute, followed by inviting of the chief guest, guests of honour and the presidents of various organizations to the dais.  A slide presentation of the tragic incident of flight crash at Mangalore airport was made by Fayaz Sheikh.   Sarfuddin, who delivered the introductory address.

Capt Sanjeev Bhandari (Air India Express ex-pilot, presently working for Kuwait Airways) addressed the gathering, giving the technical details of airport, aircraft and the crew. He requested the people to stop speculating, and wait till the final investigation report determines the cause of the crash. Narasimha Rao from the Indian embassy here read the message from the ambassador of India to Kuwait.  Condolatory messages were delivered by the representatives of various organizations (Archie Menezes – vice president, Indian Community School, Kuwait, Swarna Shetty of TKK, Rudy of KCWA, Hasan Yusuf of KMWA, Harsha Rao of KKK, S M Basheer, KKMA– D K branch, Karunakara Shetty of BSK and Salaam from KEA) to the Indian embassy through its representative, Narasimha Rao.  Manager of the Kuwait office Air India Express, Ram Babu, also addressed the gathering.

At the end, representatives of all the organizations decided to meet again during the week to discuss arrangements for submission of a memorandum to the ministry of civil aviation in India as well as Air India Express, about flight and airport safety measures. The meeting came to an end with the proposing of vote of thanks by Hassan Yusuf.  The entire programme was compered by S M Basheer.

Dubai : Tribute Paid to Plane Crash Victims

by Shodhan Prasad
Pics by Rajesh Sequeira
Daijiworld Media Network

Indian Consulate Dubai hosted a condolence meeting to pay tribute to the passengers of Air India Express flight IX - 812 Dubai-Mangalore that crashed on Saturday May 22, 2010 morning at Mangalore. 

The meeting was held at Indian Consulate Auditorium on Monday May 24 at 6.15 pm. The consul general Sanjay Verma opened up the meeting and said that he it was shocking news for all and will still haunt for quite some time.  He said that those who gathered in the auditorium today are either relatives, friends and/or known persons of those victims since all of them are either residents of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain or any of the emirates.  He stressed that we all should not come to a conclusion about how the incident happened until and unless the investigations by the experience authorities are over and they prove with the results.  He said that in this moment all are united irrespective of their religion or state and are here to express their condolence.  The consulate continue to be supportive as was from the time of the incident with providing control room, telephone, fax and even relief efforts and said that the consulate is for ‘You the Indians’ and is with ‘Your’ support.  Once the compensation formalities will start operative the consulate will support with the attestations and whatever documentations needed to all those relatives of the deceased.  He also said that the Consulate had received condolence messages from all highest offices in the UAE including Sheikha Lubna who called him personally to express her condolence.  The Consulate also received messages from Consulates of other countries in the UAE.  In his winding message he said that this is Karmabhoomi and Janmabhoomi so whatever has to happen as per God’s will need to be accepted.

Soon after that a one minute silence prayer was observed for the departed souls to rest in peace.  All of them prayed to Almighty to provide enough strength to the relatives of the deceased to bear the loss.

Later was recitation from the Holy Quran, Holy Bible, Holy Bhagawat Gita & Holy Guru Granth Sahib by children belonging to different faith.  All the recitations from different religions gave a common meaningful message.

President of Indian Welfare Society, K. Kumar spoke few words briefing about the incident and said ‘leave the anger, leave the ego, leave the hatred and let us live together’. 

Syed Khalil of Galadari spoke about the tragic crash and said it was a very sad moment for all of us.  He said that ‘especially the people of South Karnataka are those who love their home town very much’.  He remembered a similar incident happened 20 years ago.  He said in such type of incidents one should not see the religion but should work together with no difference. 

Others who spoke included C.R. Shetty, Dr. B.K. Yousuf and M. Radhakrishnan Nair of ICWC who is also President of All Kerala College Alumini Forum (AKCAF) who delivered a wonderful short speech concluding that this kind of incident should not repeat.

Those who attended the condolence included Presidents of various Cultural and State Associations, Leaders of various Community Organisations, Indian Business Community and Indians representing from different states.  All the leading Press, TV and other Media has sent their correspondents to cover the event. It was a huge gathering and at the end each and every person maintained a queue and lighted candles outside the premises with prayers for peace.

Mangalore Plane Crash - Complete Coverage : Click Here