Army on Tuesday airlifted a pregnant woman in critical condition from Machhal to Kupwara for better treatment as the Highway was cut off due to continuous snowfall for the last seven days.
Army in a statement to Kashmir Despatch said, The local army unit at Dudi, Macchal Sector received a distress call from the Sarpanch of Dudi Village informing that 35-year-old Zareena Begum wife of Mohd Rafiq Khan who is four months pregnant was in critical medical condition. The entire Macchal Sector is presently cut off due to excessive snowfall from 07 Jan to 14 Jan thus surface transportation for providing specialist medical support was ruled out.
Immediate joint planning was carried out by Indian Army, Indian Air Force and District Administration and speedy air evacuation were planned by diverting the IAF aircraft on operational duty in the Kashmir Valley for this urgent humanitarian effort.
While the District Administration initiated prompt requisition, keeping the urgent medical need AOC J & K granted immediate clearance for the air evacuation.
The Army personnel at Dudi quickly transported the pregnant lady to Dudi Army Helipad and the Air Force authorities immediately dispatched a Mi-17 helicopter piloted by Wing Commander N Chaudhary & Squadron Leader A Pandey to the site.
After that the critically ill pregnant lady was flown to Army Helipad at Kupwara along with her husband and two lady relatives. At Kupwara Army Helipad the Army Emergency Medical Response Team took charge, stabilised her vitals and transported her to District Hospital Kupwara for further medical attention.
