Launched recently, air ambulance no life saver

THE air ambulance service in Uttarakhand, launched by PM Narendra Modi recently, encountered difficulties in responding to the bus accident in Almora's Marchula, which claimed 36 lives on Monday.

- NARENDRA SETHI

The air ambulance service, designed to provide critical care and medical assistance in emergencies, especially in remote areas, was unable to provide timely medical aid to the victims. According to sources, Pinnacle Aviation, which has a tripartite agreement with the Uttarakhand government and AIIMS, had sent its helicopter for periodic maintenance to Meerut at the time of the accident.

The state had secured the Centre's approval for the country's first helicopter ambulance service, citing its difficult geographical conditions.

On October 29, the PM inaugurated the helicopter ambulance service for AIIMS Uttarakhand. While the new service is a promising step towards improving emergency medical response in the region, its effectiveness was put to the test during the bus accident.