Shillong, Sept
ember 4: In the September 2 explosive mishap in Haa (Bhutan), 11 soldiers lost their lives and 10 injured.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) played a very vital role in rescuing the injured soldiers providing casualty evacuation to Bhutan nationals three times in last few days.
Casualty evacuation is one of the most revered tasks that a helicopter often undertakes. On 1st September, 2013 at 1 PM Indian Air Force was tasked to undertake casualty evacuation from Bumthang in Central Bhutan to Thimpu for a critically ill Bhutanese National.
The weather being unfavorable on that day, helicopter got airborne from Bagdogra at 10.30 AM on 2nd September, 2013 for the mission.
While enroute to Bumthang, the crew encountered bad weather and decided to divert to Guwahati. While the helicopter was proceeding to Guwahati it received message about a blast near Haa involving personnel of Royal Bhutan Army.
The Captain carried out a quick endurance check of the helicopter and decided to proceed to Haa. Five critically injured personnel with one attended each were airlifted from Haa to Thimpu.
This timely evacuation is perhaps the most befitting example of flexibility of Airpower and tremendous capability of Mi-17 V5. The Royal Bhutan Army Chief has expressed his appreciation for the casualty evacuations carried out by the IAF in last few days.
Similarly on an earlier occasion, on the night of 23rd August, 2013, IAF was tasked to evacuate a serious casualty from North Bhutan. A young Bhutanese national had been hit by an arrow with the arrow still stuck on the upper back.
The location of casualty as intimated was at Lunana village near Thaanza glacier at an altitude of 13000 feet. This place is connected to rest of Bhutan by just a walking track. Since North Bhutan is not frequented by IAF Mi-17 V5 helicopters and the valley is narrow with generally marginal weather, Group Captain MK Yadav, Commanding Officer of Helicopter Unit got airborne for the mission with his team.
A thorough sortie preparation was undertaken with exhaustive study of Lunana Valley. The helicopter took off for the mission early morning on 24th August.
On reaching Thimpu, two Doctors with their emergency equipment were also taken onboard. On reaching Lunana Village they found the area to be restricted and barley sufficient for the Mi-17 to land but the crew maneuvered the helicopter in the valley and came to hover over the spot.
While touching down, the slope of the surface did not allow complete landing, the helicopter maintained light contact with ground and the Flight Gunner was sent out to look for the casualty. On spotting the casualty he guided the villagers to get him into the helicopter.
On board doctors attended to the casualty and the helicopter was flown to Thimpu. The Home and Health Ministers of the Government of Bhutan were there to receive the helicopter at Thimpu and were graciously thankful to the Indian Air Force for this timely rescue. (SP News)
