Andaman: Unable to airlift accident victim to Chennai hospital
family makes desperate calls for help
Port Blair: The family of a young man battling for life after a road accident in Andaman is desperately seeking urgent medical evacuation to Chennai, but bureaucratic hurdles and lack of immediate stretcher facilities have left them helpless.
The accident took place on Friday at Tushnabad, Andaman, when a speeding SSV Transport bus collided with the victim, causing severe injuries. The man, who remains unconscious for over 24 hours, has suffered a serious head injury and is currently receiving treatment at GB Pant Hospital in Port Blair. Doctors have stated that the next 48 hours are critical and have recommended shifting him to Chennai for advanced medical care. However, the family has been struggling to find an immediate way to transport him.
One of the victim’s relatives, Shahrukh Sayed, took to social media platform X on Saturday, pleading for urgent help. In his post, he expressed shock at the lack of immediate airlift options for stretcher patients from Andaman. He tagged various government authorities, airlines, politicians, and celebrities, hoping that someone would intervene and help with the medical evacuation.
According to Sayed, IndiGo Airlines informed the family that it would take at least 48 hours after payment and necessary formalities, and even then, it would be subject to seat availability. Meanwhile, Air India Express' website mentioned that their process could take 72 hours, but the family has reportedly received no response from the airline's customer care or staff at the Port Blair (IXZ) airport counter.
Air India, which previously offered stretcher facilities, has completely discontinuedthe service, leaving the family with even fewer options. Akasa Air, another airline operating in the region, does not offer stretcher facilities at all.
The family, in their desperate search for solutions, learned that another patient was shifted to Chennai on a stretcher via IndiGo Airlines, but only after a painstaking process that took 10 days of intensive follow-ups before approval was granted. The victim’s relatives are devastated as they do not have that much time and require immediate assistance.
“We need urgent help NOW. We have already started the medical documentation process, but time is running out. If anyone can help arrange an emergency medical transfer, please contact me immediately,” Sayed wrote in his plea.
He tagged prominent figures such as actors Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, and Sonu Sood, as well as Andaman-based politicians and organizations. Calls have also been made to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA, Airport Authority of India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Office, urging them to intervene.
As of now, no concrete solution has been found. The family continues to appeal for immediate action, hoping that authorities or organizations specializing in medical evacuation will step in before it is too late.
URGENT HELP NEEDED
— Shahrukh Sayed (@Shahrukh_333) March 1, 2025
My cousin brother met with an accident yesterday at Tushnabad, #Andaman when a speeding SSV Transport bus collided him. He has suffered a head injury and is currently unconscious for the past 24+ hours at #GBPantHospital, #PortBlair. Doctors have advised that…
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Odisha: Normalcy returns to violence-hit Malkangiri; internet services fully restored
Malkangiri (PTI): Normalcy returned to Odisha’s Malkangiri district on Monday, nearly a week after around 200 villages were damaged in violent clashes in a village, with the district administration fully restoring internet services, a senior official said.
Additional District Magistrate Bedabar Pradhan said internet services, suspended across the district on December 8 to curb the spread of rumours and misinformation following the clashes, were restored after the situation improved.
The suspension had been extended in phases till 12 noon on Monday.
The administration also withdrew prohibitory orders imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita within a 10-km radius of MV-26 village, where arson incidents were reported on December 7 and December 8.
Though the violence was confined to two villages, tension had gripped the entire district, as the incident took the form of a clash between local tribals and Bengali settlers following the recovery of a headless body of a woman on December 4, officials said.
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The violence broke out after residents of Rakhelguda village allegedly set ablaze several houses belonging to Bengali residents, forcing hundreds to flee. The headless body of Lake Podiami (51), a woman from the Koya tribe, was recovered from the banks of the Poteru river on December 4, while her head was found six days later at a location about 15 km away.
Officials said the district administration held several rounds of discussions with representatives of the tribal and Bengali communities, following which both sides agreed to maintain peace.
Relief and rehabilitation work has since been launched at MV-26 village, with preliminary assessment pegging property damage at around Rs 3.8 crore.
A two-member ministerial team headed by Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo visited the affected village, interacted with officials and locals, and submitted a report to the chief minister.
So far, 18 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, the officials said, adding that despite the withdrawal of prohibitory orders and restoration of internet services, security forces, including BSF and CRPF personnel, continue to be deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
On Sunday, Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi visited MV-26 and neighbouring Rakhelguda villages, and held discussions with members of both communities as part of efforts to rebuild confidence and restore peace.
More than two lakh Bengali-speaking Bangladeshis were rehabilitated by the Centre in Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts in 1968, and they currently reside in 124 villages of Malkangiri.
