Kochi: Braving rough and squally weather, Navy on Friday evacuated two patients from Lakshadweep's Kiltan Island and brought them here for treatment following a request from Lakshadweep and Minicoy Administration.
The two patients at Kiltan Island were a nine-month-old baby girl with a broken hand and a 70-year-old woman with a hip bone fracture, and required specialised treatment, a Navy official said.
A Helicopter was launched from the Indian Naval Air Station, Garuda, which evacuated both the patients along with the baby girl's parents, he said.
Meanwhile, a Navy Dornier aircraft was positioned at Agatti. The patients and attendants were moved to the Dornier and flown to Kochi.
"The operation involved detailed planning because of the large distances for flying over sea in adverse monsoon conditions," the official said.
"The helicopter was flown by Lieutenant Colonel Y K Ajit Singh, Lieutenant Commander S S Dash and R K Sharma whereas the Dornier aircraft was flown by Commander V V Mani and Lieutenant R C Vishnu," he said. Meanwhile, the life of a person, who suffered a heart attack in Minicoy could not be saved despite efforts by island administration and Navy.
A Navy chopper was deployed to airlift the patient from the island, but he died before help could reach him, officials said.
