Green Corridor in Silchar: Airlift of a COVID positive patient fails due to bad weather, "Will reattempt tomorrow," family

62-year-old, Ashok Chandra Das was supposed to be airlifted from Silchar Airport earlier today. Positive for COVID 19, Radhamadhab Road resident, Das is currently admitted to Jivan Jyoti Hospital in Meherpur. The family members wanted to shift him to Apollo Hospitals in Chennai for better treatment.

Das tested positive for COVID19 on RAT on June 26. His family members wrote to the district administration on June 27, requesting for a green corridor for the patient to smoothly travel to the airport. “Family members have already arranged everything for airlifting of the patients on 28th June 2021 at 10.30 am. In this connection, I would like to request you to arrange “Green Corridor” for transportation of the patients from JJIMS Hospital, Meherpur to Kumbirgram Airport i.e. 28th June, 2021 at 10.30am,” stated a letter written by the deputy commissioner to the Superintendent of Police, Cachar.

The patient’s oxygen saturation level is 95% and he was shifted to the airport as per plan. “We are thankful to Cachar Police for facilitating the Green Corridor. OC of Silchar Sadar, Ditumoni Goswami himself executed the Green Corridor and we are grateful to Cachar Police for the same,” said Anjan Kumar Paul, relative of the Ashok Chandra Das. However, the Air Ambulance could not take off.

“We had to return to the Hospital and the Cachar Police again facilitated a Green Corridor for us to return to the hospital smoothly. We will again make an attempt tomorrow to fly to Chennai,” added Paul. “The patient is positive for COVID 19 but he has other complications, due to which we want to shift the patient to Chennai,” said Paul.

Sources from the Silchar Airport Authority informed that the flight could not take off due to inclement weather. “The patient waited for more than 2 hours at the airport, but the aircraft didn’t get clearance for departure. The flight will remain on the ground today at Silchar Airport and will fly back with the patient tomorrow if the weather remains pleasant,” informed an official at Silchar Airport. Adding that the Airports Authority will provide all required assistance for the night stay of the Air Ambulance.