The recent Kozhikode plane crash shattered dreams and aspirations of many families in matter of few seconds. Among them was one Muhammed Riyas V.P who was one of the passengers of the ill fated flight which killed 18 people. Riyas, 24, was in love with his junior Hanya. At the time of the blossoming romance, he was doing his bachelor’s degree in Commerce at Ideal College in Cherpulassery. He was popular in college. He was the college students’ union chairman,” said his uncle Ashraf Ali. But the families got to know when Riyas came for a visit to UAE and went back to change his visa status, after getting a job a warehouse assistant with a pharmaceutical company in Dubai.
“When he came back, we all got to know about their relationship and the families agreed to their wedding one year ago. We decided to hold the function when he would come on his first annual leave this year,” Ali added. “On the 14th of last month (July), we decided to hold the wedding this month depending on the arrival of Riyas. It was supposed to be held once he would finish his quarantine period upon reaching home,” he went on to say. Riyas' older brother, Nizamudheen V.P, survived the crash with injuries. “He is in Kozhikode Medical College. He has not been told about Riyas. We were told he was out of danger but had suffered a fracture and was under treatment.” Eighteen people died in Kerala and more than 150 were injured. All survivors were admitted to various hospitals and were also tested for COVID-19.