NAGPUR: A chopper usually flown for anti-guerrilla operations in restive Gadchiroli was on Wednesday mobilised to paradrop one unit of blood of the rare B negative group at a marooned rural hospital in Maharashtra’s flood-hit Bhamragarh, where a woman was bleeding profusely after delivering a baby.
The weather was inclement, and the crew had to wait 72 hours for clouds to disperse before takeoff late Wednesday even as doctors struggled to save the woman’s life.Initially, blood was transported from Gadchiroli city to Aheri health care centre 120km away by road on Sept 9, but the ambulance got stranded midway as roads were washed away and bridges submerged.
Mantoshree Choudhury was revived after the transfusion. Her newborn weighing 2.9kg is also doing well, an official at Bhamragarh Rural Hospital said.
Gadchiroli police decided to requisition the chopper after receiving an SOS from Aheri that the final stretch of 50km to Bhamragarh could not be completed by the ambulance carrying blood.
The last stop for the ambulance was Perimili, after which it was just roaring flood waters. Parlakota river had breached its banks and all nullahs and streams were overflowing.
Bhamragarh medical officer Bhushan Choudhari administered the last unit of blood in stock and called Bhamragarh SDPO for help. Collector Sanjay Daine and Gadchiroli SP Neelotpal decided to send a chopper with the blood unit.
