AHMEDABAD: A doctor’s emotional plea for time to vacate the crash-damaged quarters near BJ Medical College struck a chord online early Saturday. The video showed Anil Panwar, a cardiac anaesthetist at UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre (UNMICRC), describing the difficulty of relocating while tending to an unwell child. Even as the appeal garnered widespread concern and sympathy, Dr Panwar posted a second video, clarifying that his earlier remarks were made in a moment of stress and that his family had, in fact, been provided accommodation. BJMC authorities, meanwhile, confirmed that all junior doctors and faculty members who were displaced have been allotted new accommodation.The initial video, filmed on Friday night near the residential quarters, showed Dr Panwar standing among packed belongings, his voice trembling as he spoke of the urgency and pressure to vacate. He said the administration had asked them to vacate the quarters immediately as they planned to demolish parts of the buildings as part of the relief and rescue work.“Are we not humans? Can’t you give us 2-3 days? We need some basic goods to run the house. Several of our doctors are admitted (to the hospital for treatment). We are troubled… Understand that it is not easy to clear a house overnight,” said Dr Panwar, who was covered in soot from attempting to shift his belongings. He was on duty when the tragedy took place.“I pray to you with folded hands that give us 2-3 days’ time. My child is admitted, and I should be with her. Instead, I am here (at the site, clearing belongings). Convey my message to the higher-ups as I am helpless. I am not from Gujarat, and I need some time to shift,” he said. His wife, Dr Chanchal Bhandari, also a cardiac anaesthetist, had grabbed attention a day ago when news broke out of how her heroism and her nanny’s presence of mind helped them save her two-year-old daughter’s life after the ill-fated plane crashed onto the hostel buildings. The appeal, shared widely across social media platforms, drew empathy and concern from citizens and medical professionals alike, many of whom highlighted the psychological and physical toll the crash had taken on healthcare workers already coping with long shifts and trauma.However, by Saturday afternoon, Dr Panwar issued a second statement. In a video message, he said that the earlier remarks were made in a moment of stress and confusion, and that he had not been aware that his wife — also a doctor — had already been allotted temporary housing by hospital authorities “I was mentally disturbed and didn’t know what I was saying,” he said. “Volunteers helped us shift our belongings. I again thank the hospital and government authorities,” he said in the video.The clarification came as the BJ Medical College administration announced that a total of 159 accommodations had been arranged for residents from the damaged hostels and staff quarters.Dr Minakshi Parikh, dean of BJMC, said that 100 students from Atulyam 2 and 3 had been moved to the GCRI Old Block and Digvijaya Lions Hostel. Another 38 residents from Atulyam 1 were relocated to PG Hostel wings ON MediCity campus, the Mithila quarters, and the UN Mehta hostel. Twenty-one residents from Atulyam 4 were shifted to the Dental College quarters and Mithila 2 quarters. “All affected students and residents have been shifted to new accommodations as of Saturday,” she confirmed.Some junior doctors, speaking anonymously, acknowledged that the shifting process was not without hurdles as the relief and rescue work was going on all around. “Almost all of us were reporting to duty due to the scale of the catastrophe. But one can understand that the authorities are also pressed on multiple fronts. The seniors and staffers also helped us, and almost all have now been shifted to new accommodations,” said a doctor. Several voluntary organizations are providing meals and other help to the affected residents, said officials.
