Air Force Helicopter Airlifts Paralysed Woman from Snowbound Himachal Village
85 year old evacuated from 9,000-ft altitude as snowfall blocks all roads
CHANDIGARH, Feb 1: An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter carried out a critical medical evacuation of an 85 year old paralysed woman from Dhanderwari village in Himachal Pradesh, situated at 9,000 feet, after heavy snowfall made roads impassable.
The IAF said the mission was completed amid snowfall and low visibility, with the woman receiving timely medical attention and stabilising following the evacuation. A video shared by the force showed the woman being transported on a stretcher through snow before being airlifted to Chandigarh.
“An IAF Cheetah helicopter undertook an urgent medical evacuation of an 85 year old paralysed woman from Dhanderwari, Himachal Pradesh (9,000 ft AMSL) to Chandigarh after snowfall blocked all access routes,” the IAF stated on social media.
Himachal Pradesh experienced light snowfall and rain on Sunday. Shimla’s Shillaroo and Kullu’s Kothi recorded 5 cm of snow, while Kufri received 4 cm. Other regions included Gondhla in Lahaul and Spiti (3 cm), Khadrala in Shimla (2.5 cm), Sangla in Kinnaur (2.1 cm), and Kalpa (0.8 cm).
The evacuation highlights the IAF’s rapid response capability in challenging Himalayan terrain during winter conditions.
