Heavy Snowfall has brought life in the hill state to a standstill, most parts of the state remain cut to normal life, the far flung areas of Lahaul and Spiti have no way out anyway and Government finds itself in a fix. The helpless nature of the Government was exposed when Palmo Devi from village Shansha of Lahaul and Spiti district, suffered a paralytic stroke, and due to improper medical facilities in the Lahaul hospitals had to be carried out of the area for a better, much needed treatment. Villagers carried Palmo Devi 3km on bed to Rawa Helipad but due to the cancellation of schedule sortie of helicopter, she was forced to be held back without any proper medical treatment. Government spokesman has assures for the tomorrow sortie.
The weather may have been a hindrance in this case, but this isn’t the first time when patient are facing such problem in Lahaul valley. Now, the question here arise whom to blame, Lahaul Spiti is one of the difficult terrains to counter especially in the winter, but Government hasn’t done anything on its part and has failed on every front in this area. Official said that helicopter sortie was cancelled due to the inclement weather, but it is not justifiable that patients are suffering for such reasons; if the terrain is difficult then people of the area deserve better medical facilities and doctors.
Mohan Lal Relingpa
