Port Blair, March 02: The Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC) has sought a thorough and impartial enquiry into the alleged negligence in handling patients following the recent aircraft mishap at Mayabunder involving a Pawan Hans helicopter on February 24.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of the A&N Administration, ANTCC Chairman Mr. G. Bhasker raised serious concerns regarding the medical response extended to one of the passengers, Smt. Nambi Amma. According to the letter, although there were no immediate casualties in the incident, the passenger, who had reportedly inhaled water into her lungs, was shifted to Port Blair by road on February 25.
The letter states that the patient had to endure a nearly seven-hour journey over the poorly maintained NH-4 road. By the time she reached Port Blair, her condition had allegedly deteriorated significantly. She was admitted to the ICU and placed on ventilator support but later passed away on the evening of February 27.
Mr. Bhasker has sought clarification on several issues, including the availability of emergency medical infrastructure at Mayabunder to handle critical cases, whether the attending doctor possessed the necessary qualifications, and why the patient was transported by road instead of being airlifted. He questioned why assistance from agencies such as the Coast Guard, Navy, or Air Force was not sought for emergency evacuation if a Pawan Hans helicopter was unavailable.
The letter further inquired whether a qualified doctor accompanied the patient during the transfer and whether the ambulance was equipped with adequate life-saving equipment, oxygen support, and monitoring systems suited for a critical patient.
Alleging that negligent handling may have contributed to the worsening of the patient’s condition during transit, Mr. Bhasker also highlighted broader concerns about the preparedness of Mayabunder, which is a district headquarters, to deal with life-threatening emergencies. He stated that the absence of adequate emergency medical facilities raises serious questions about accountability and disaster response mechanisms in the Islands.
In view of the circumstances, the ANTCC has urged the Administration to order a comprehensive enquiry, fix responsibility for any lapses, and take immediate corrective measures to strengthen emergency medical and evacuation systems across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
