No sign of chopper service to Lahaul valley

Chandigarh/Kullu: Abrupt snowfall in the higher reaches of Lahaul valley has cut off the residents from rest of the world, while the state government has failed to keep its promise to start emergency helicopter service. So while several residents are waiting urgent specialized medical care, the authorities are uncertain about early start of helicopter service to airlift them as there is no place to land the 22-seater chopper they have arranged, which is the only effective machine to operate under these weather conditions.
The Himachal Pradesh government has now sent an SOS call to the Centre for help. As many specialized medical services are not available in the valley, patients needing immediate specialized medical aid are referred to bigger hospital located in Kullu, Shimla and Chandigarh. At present there are three patients in Lahaul who have been referred to be airlifted as emergency cases, but the helicopter has not been able to cross the Rohtang pass for last three days due to weather condition. Chief medical officer, Lahaul-Spiti, Dr Shamsher Singh Pujara, said the district administration was informed in advance about three emergency cases at the community health centre in Udaipur needing immediate specialized treatment. ‘‘Condition of the patients is under control at the moment but the situation may change any time,’’ Pujara said.
As the small chopper is being provided by the state government on demand to attend emergency cases, the issue of starting regular helicopter service for passengers, who have listed their names with the district administration at Kullu and Lahaul, is hanging fire as Airport Authority of India officials deployed at Bhuntar have refused to allow the use of the runway for the helicopter.
14/12/09 Anand Bodh & Ashwani Kumar/Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Dec 2009, New Dec 2009