C-130J in air ambulance mode
lands at Bagdogra.
Chetak and Mi-17 helicopters of
the Indian Air Force flying into the
Jorhat Air Force Station from
forward bases with injured
soldiers. An-32 transport aircraft
carry in some more from
Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs)
along the Line of Actual Control
(LAC). Some are shifted to the
local IAF hospital while the
seriously injured are transferred
to a waiting C130J Super Hercules
which takes off for Bagdogra
within minutes.
Sounds like a clip right out of a
war movie. This was no movie but
the injured soldiers were
playacting. The remaining
members of the 'cast' were
serious. After all, this was a drill -
part of Ex Casevac East 2013 - that
needs to be perfected if valuable
lives are to be saved during any
aggression from across the LAC.
The Super Hercules finally lands at
Bagdogra and the 50 patients are
brought out and transferred to
waiting ambulances.
The Army and IAF are certainly
taking the possibility of a military
strike by China quite seriously.
Apart from developing
infrastructure to counter any such
move, support mechanism is also
being perfected. According to an
officer, Ex Casevac East 2013
involved the states of Arunachal
Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal and
Sikkim. While Arunachal and
Sikkim share borders with the
Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR)
and China, Assam and West Bengal
will play vital roles in the
movement of men and equipment
and casualty evacuation.
"The Super Hercules was modified
into an air ambulance
configuration with 'patient
transfer unit' and life saving
equipment. It became part of the
'critical care air transport team'
for speedily airlifting casualties
from a simulated disaster zone in
Jorhat, upper Assam to Bagdogra
in West Bengal. Helicopters and
smaller transport aircraft like
An-32s participated in the drill.
This was a demonstration that will
benefit stakeholders like the Army,
paramilitary forces and disaster
management response managers
from Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and
Sikkim," the officer added.
According to him, the exercise
successfully showcased the IAF
and Army's operational
preparedness, cohesion and
professional capabilities besides
synergizing inter-dependencies
among the various stakeholders in
disaster situations. It was also
aimed to evaluate, analyze and
adapt to ever-changing situations,
lack of time, information and
resources.
Defence News - C-130J in air ambulance mode lands at Bagdogra
