Rudraprayag, May 17 – Officials confirmed that a 'Sanjeevani' heli ambulance operated by AIIMS Rishikesh made an emergency landing near the Kedarnath helipad on Saturday after suffering a technical snag.
According to District Tourism Development Officer Rahul Chaubey, who also serves as the nodal officer for heli services, the helicopter was en route to Kedarnath to airlift a critically ill pilgrim, identified as Shree Devi, who was experiencing severe respiratory distress.
While preparing to land at the main helipad in Kedarnath, the pilot detected a malfunction in the tail rotor. Acting promptly, the pilot opted to land on a nearby flat surface instead of the main helipad. Chaubey said the helicopter’s tail rotor broke during the emergency landing.
Despite the technical failure, the incident was handled skillfully. The pilot and two accompanying doctors onboard remained unharmed.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the mechanical issue.
The heli ambulance service by AIIMS Rishikesh is a critical emergency response initiative known as 'Sanjeevani'. It aims to facilitate rapid medical assistance and evacuations in the treacherous terrains of Uttarakhand.
