Helicopter flies heart patient to safety

Kolkata: The transport department’s helicopter rescued a critically ill person with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and heart failure from the Sagar Islands in South 24 Parganas.

“The pilgrim named Ganga Prasad, who had come from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh, suffered heart attack at the Ganga Sagar Mela while preparing to take the holy dip. He was immediately taken to Sagar Mela hospital and put on ventilators,” P.B. Salim, district magistrate of South 24 Parganas, said.

The 62-year-old, who needed intensive speciality treatment, was airlifted by a helicopter and taken to Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College Hospital, also known as NRS, in Kolkata. The patient is now in stable condition. Mr Salim thanked the transport department for their timely support

Over a million pilgrims from across India and abroad, braving the icy cold water and chilly winds, took a holy dip in the Ganga on Saturday, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, at the annual Ganga Sagar Fair in Bengal. The Ganga Sagar Mela is the second largest assembly of people after the quadrennial Kumbha Mela (fair). The devout believe that a dip in the sacred water at this time washes off sins.