Carrying patient, Sissu villagers walk 8 km in snow

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, January 17

Residents of Sissu and nearby villages, carrying patient Dhani Ram of Jogindernagar on a stretcher, walked around 8-km on a snowy path for 4 hours to reach the north portal of the Rohtang tunnel today. From there, he was transported in a Border Roads Organisation vehicle to Kullu hospital. The patient is a policeman deputed in Lahaul.

The patient had been stuck at Sissu village since yesterday as bad weather had hampered the flight. Yesterday, efforts were made to airlift him from Keylong hospital to Kullu in a chopper but bad weather had forced the pilot to return midway.

Since morning, the pilot had been waiting for clear weatherto airlift him again. Finally, the villagers decided to lift the patient on a stretcher. Lahaul ex-MLA Ravi Thakur told The Tribune, “Due to poor health service in Keylong, the residents are suffering a lot. The patient was suffering from severe pain in the abdomen. He was earlier admitted to the district hospital. The patient could not get any relief and finally he was referred to Kullu hospital.”

“Colleagues of the patient collected around Rs 1.20 lakh to hire a private helicopter. But when the patient could not be airlifted, around 45 villagers mustered courage and decided to take the patient on a stretcher. There was over 5 feet snow in the area,” he said.

The residents said there was need to upgrade health services in Keylong. Mohan Lal, Prem Lal, Anil Seghal and many other Lahaul residents said the district hospital was lacking adequate infrastructure.

“The posts of specialist in orthopaedic, paediatric, gynaecology departments have been lying vacant for many years. Agriculture Minister Ram Lal Markanda should take up the matter with the government,” they said.

4-hr treacherous journey

• The patient was suffering from severe pain in the abdomen
• Efforts were made to shift him to Kullu hospital by chopper yesterday but due to bad weather, the pilot had to return midway
• Around 45 villagers lifted the patient from Sissu village to the north portal of Rohtang tunnel
• It took them around 4 hours to cross 8-km snowy distance
• The colleagues of the patient collected Rs1.20 lakh to hire a helicopter on Thursday