Parrikar orders IAF plane to fly injured girl to Delhi after tweet

A Twitter SOS from a critically injured girl’s father on Monday saw the defence ministry rush a military plane to fly her out from Raipur to Delhi, just in time.

The father, a retired naval officer, tweeted to the Prime Minister and the defence minister, seeking help to airlift his child to Delhi as she was fighting for her life in a hospital with scarce medical facilities.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar responded swiftly by authorizing an AN-32 plane to fly Ravi Kant Soni’s daughter to the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital. It is learnt the plane took off for Raipur from Agra around 8 pm on Monday and she is expected to reach the army’s top medical facility around midnight.

Soni said his daughter needed to be moved to the Delhi-based hospital at any cost and if she was not shifted on Friday, it may be too late.

“We’re losing valuable time. It is not possible for Civil air ambulance to operate in weather conditions prevailing at Raipur and Delhi with such a critical patient. Also, civil air ambulances are not allowed to operate/land at Delhi airport post

We’re losing valuable time. It is not possible for Civil air ambulance to operate in weather conditions prevailing at Raipur and Delhi with such a critical patient... Sirs you can still help RAVIKANT SONI, retired naval officer in a tweet to Manohar Parrikar

1800hours. Sirs you can still help,” Soni said in a series of tweets.

A source said Parrikar spoke to the family and assured help.

The father tweeted, “Your much needed help will go a long way in reinforcing the faith of lakhs of serving as well as retired defence personnel.”

The IAF plane will refuel in Raipur and bring the girl and her family to Delhi. Soni tweeted, “Extremely grateful to the hon’ble Defence Minister @manoharparrikar and the entire IAF team which has always been supportive in getting us out of this emergency. This monumental support can never be forgotten. Proud to be a part of the Indian Armed Forces.”