The newly launched air ambulance service at AIIMS Rishikesh, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, was unable to transport injured passengers from a tragic bus accident in Almora on Monday due to technical delays. While the air ambulance is still undergoing quality assessments and remains non-operational, six critically injured passengers were eventually airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh using a general helicopter arranged by state authorities.

Delays Impact Golden Hour Response in Almora Bus Accident

The accident occurred between Marchula and Gaulikhal around 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM, and response efforts faced considerable delays. The first helicopter transporting three patients landed at AIIMS Rishikesh at 12:50 PM, followed by another with three more injured at 4:20 PM. According to Anoop Nautiyal, founder of the Social Development for Communities (SDC) Foundation, this delay highlights the need to optimize the “golden hour” for emergency care in accidents, calling for a more efficient disaster response model.

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Interim Measures and AIIMS Helicopter Team Setup

AIIMS Rishikesh’s public relations officer, Sandeep Kumar Singh, confirmed that the air ambulance is currently undergoing quality assessments and is not yet in service. In the meantime, a general helicopter was used for patient transport, coordinated by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA).

The air ambulance service, inaugurated on Dhanvantari Jayanti in New Delhi, includes a specialized team of one pilot, two technical officers, and one navigator, along with a 12-member medical team. Once operational, it is expected to significantly enhance rapid response capabilities in emergencies, potentially enabling airlifts directly from accident sites to reduce critical response times and save lives.

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