Chandigarh, February 28
The IAF has successfully adapted the oxygen system of decommissioned Iskra trainer aircraft for use in crash ambulances. This has greatly increased the efficiency of oxygen delivery to patients.

Already several ambulances with the IAF, which did not have a pre-fitted oxygen system, have been retrofitted with systems salvaged from the Iskra aircraft, which have been phased out by the Air Force. Since the system has been successfully test and has been found reliable, IAF sources said more such modified ambulances were in the offing for being stationed in different bases.

A team from the Air Force Station Hakimpet, comprising Gp Capt L.S. Ruprai, Chief Engineering Officer, Gp Capt H.K. Potdar, Senior Medical Officer, Wg Cdr A. Agarwal, classified specialist (aerospace medicine) and Wg Cdr R. Pandey, Senior Engineer, carried out the project.

Iskra TS-11 jet-engined aircraft were procured from Poland in 1975 for providing intermediate training to pilots at Hakimpet before they moved to MiG Operational Fighter Training Unit at Tezpur for advanced training. The IAF began phasing out this aircraft in December, 2004.

Ambulances supplied to the IAF by local civilian manufacturers lacked an oxygen system and it had to be made available through an oxygen cylinder and related fittings carried inside an ambulance, which created several problems. Since there was no arrangement of clamping cylinders to the vehicle body, these had to be carried on a trolley, which was prone to dislocation while moving. Fittings on the cylinder also tended to leak when the vehicle was in motion.

The IAF also found that the total endurance of the single cylinder which could be accommodated was about half an hour, which was quite inadequate. Further, in case of an ejection involving two pilots, the arrangement was insufficient.

An analysis of the Iskra’s system revealed that the system, which catered to two pilots, could be retrofitted into the ambulance and could administer oxygen to two patients simultaneously for over an hour-and-a-half each.

With a little modification and at no additional cost, the systems were fitted into the ambulances and it could be recharged using existing aircraft oxygen trolley. An IAF paper on the subject stated that medical personnel operating the system found it much easier to use than the previous makeshift arrangement.

Chandigarh, February 28
While the Chandigarh Administration is all set to modernise its ISBTs at Sectors 17 and 43, the one area that cries for attention is the erection of bus queue shelters in the city.

There are many bus stops here that are still without any shelter. The conspicuous stops, which have no such shelters, include those on both sides of roads on the dividing road of Sectors 35 and 36, besides the Kisan Bhavan, bus stop in front of GCG, Sector 11, at Sector 20, a bus stop at the dividing road of Sectors 32 and 31, Sectors 44 and 43 and the list is long.

The people are forced to wait for buses while standing in open. This causes a lot of inconvenience to the commuters, especially old-age people, women carrying small children, and ailing persons. The situation gets worse, especially in rainy season, winters and mid summers.

Many of these stops might not have existed on the planning chart of the administration, but the fact is that the local buses on the routes have been halting to pick passengers at these stops since many years. Therefore, many commuters, who board buses at such stops, look to the authorities for constructing shelters there.

“We face a lot of problems daily as there is no shelter at the bus stop. The situation gets worse during the rains. In rainy days, we brave showers, while in summers we are forced to wait for buses in scorching heat. The authorities should think over constructing shelters”, said Ms Kusum, Priya and Ishita, students of GCG, Sector 11.

The other passenger, Ms Suman Lata, who takes bus from Sector 36 to the PGI, rued, “There is no place where old or ailing persons can sit while waiting for buses. As hundreds of commuters use these stops, the administration should show some concern to the problems being faced by them and construct shelters”.

On the matter, Mr P.S. Shergill, Director of the CTU, said, “We have to look at other administrative aspects like whether these stops are earmarked for the purpose or not”. However, he assured that the authorities would examine the situation for necessary action.