Top News
Germanwings crash: Relatives gather at airports
Barcelona/Dusseldorf/Paris: Relatives of the 150 people on board an Airbus A320 of a German budget airline that crashed in southern France while flying from Spain’s Barcelona to Germany’s Dusseldorf have gathered at the two airports.
The plane operated by Germanwings, the budget carrier of Germany’s Lufthansa airlines, crashed in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in the southern French Alps on Tuesday, killing all 150 on board — 144 passengers and six crew members.
According to media reports, 67 of those aboard the plane were German citizens, including 16 school children from one high school — Joseph Koenig Gymnasium — on its way back from an exchange trip as well as two opera singers and 45 from Spain. The flight was also carrying citizens of Australia, Turkey, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Most of the passengers on the flight were German nationals going home after a few days in Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain’s El Pais daily quoted an official from Barcelona’s El Prat airport as saying.
The passengers also included two workers from the German pharmaceutical Bayer and representatives of several Catalan or Catalan-based companies on their way to a food industry fair in Cologne.
The group of 16 German exchange students — all aged 14 and 15 — who were going home after a stay in Llinars del Valles.
A team of psychologists has been dispatched to El Prat airport to provide support to the relatives, who will be asked for DNA samples by the Catalan police’s scientific unit to help with the body identification.
According to reports by Germany’s international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, friends and families arriving at the Dusseldorf airport upon hearing about the crash, were taken away by psychologists to help them deal with the trauma.
Several Germanwings passengers had their flights delayed or canceled because of disruptions due to the crash, but officials made sure passengers boarding airplanes from Dusseldorf did not panic after hearing about the mishap.
Germanwings and Lufthansa have set up a free hotline with number 0800-11335577 for families of passengers involved for care and assistance.
Top News
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.