Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, on 25 July, approved airlifting the critically ailing daughter of a retired naval officer from Chhattisgarh to the Army Research and Referral Hospital here after the father tweeted to him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking help.
Retired naval officer Ravi Kant Soni tweeted to PM Modi and Parrikar earlier in the day, saying he had requested the Ministry of Defence for air evacuation of his daughter who is on ventilation at a hospital in Bhilai with insufficient medical facilities.
Soni tweeted back four hours later, saying, "Extremely grateful to the hon'ble Defence Minister @manoharparrikar and the entire IAF team which has always been supportive in getting us out of this emergency. This monumental support can never be forgotten. Proud to be a part of the Indian Armed Forces."
Soni, who served in the Navy for 20 years, said his daughter needs to be moved to R&R Hospital, Delhi as soon as possible."All hopes due to the absolute positive response of the Air Force seem to have died down at the last moment due to some bureaucratic reason," he had tweeted earlier.
"We're losing valuable time. It is not possible for civil air ambulance to operate in weather conditions prevailing at Raipur and Delhi with such a critical patient. Also, civil air ambulances are not allowed to operate/land at Delhi airport post 1800hours. Sir you can still help.
"Your much needed help will go a long way in reinforcing the faith of lakhs of serving as well as retired defence personnel that they place in the Indian Armed Forces," he said in a series of tweets.
Sources said Parrikar swung into action as soon as he saw the tweet and ordered immediate air evacuation.
He also spoke to Soni's son and assured them of all help.
--PTI
(1/9) Dear @narendramodi @PMOIndia @manoharparrikar Sirs, as a retired Naval Officer, having given over 20 years of my life to the
— Ravi Kant Soni (@ravi2898) July 25, 2016
(2/9) Indian Navy and presently serving as District Soldier Welfare Officer, I had requested MoD for air evacuation of my critically
— Ravi Kant Soni (@ravi2898) July 25, 2016
(3/9) injured dependent daughter who is fighting for her life on ventilator in ICU at Bhilai (C.G.) with insufficient medical facilities
— Ravi Kant Soni (@ravi2898) July 25, 2016
(4/9) which are desperately required at this moment to save her life. Hence, she needs to be moved to R&R Hospital, Delhi ASAP at any cost.
— Ravi Kant Soni (@ravi2898) July 25, 2016
(5/9) All hopes due to the absolute positive response of the Air Force seem to have died down at the last moment due to some bureaucratic
— Ravi Kant Soni (@ravi2898) July 25, 2016
(6/9) reason. If my daughter cannot be shifted today, it maybe too late for us. We're losing valuable time. It is not possible for Civil air
— Ravi Kant Soni (@ravi2898) July 25, 2016
(7/9) ambulance to operate in weather conditions prevailing at Raipur and Delhi with such a critical patient. Also, civil air ambulances are
— Ravi Kant Soni (@ravi2898) July 25, 2016
(8/9) not allowed to operate/land at Delhi airport post 1800h. Sirs you can still help. Your much needed help will go a long way in
— Ravi Kant Soni (@ravi2898) July 25, 2016
(9/9) reinforcing the faith of lakhs of serving as well as retired defence personnel that they place in the Indian Armed Forces.
— Ravi Kant Soni (@ravi2898) July 25, 2016
(1/2) Extremely grateful to the hon'ble Defence Minister @manoharparrikar and the entire IAF team which has always been supportive in
— Ravi Kant Soni (@ravi2898) July 25, 2016
(2/2)getting us out of this emergency. This monumenal support can never be forgotten. Proud to be a part of the IndianArmedForces. Jai Hind.
— Ravi Kant Soni (@ravi2898) July 25, 2016