IAF conducts daring airlift operation to save Army jawan’s hand

The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully airlifted an Indian Army soldier who had tragically severed his hand while operating machinery in Ladakh.

The soldier, stationed at a forward unit in Ladakh, faced a critical situation when his hand was severed during a machine operation. With a narrow window of 6 to 8 hours for emergency surgery to save his limb, the IAF promptly deployed a C-130J aircraft for the rescue mission.

“An Indian Army personnel severed his hand while operating a machine, at a unit located in the forward area. Given a window of 6 to 8 hrs for emergency surgery to save his appendage, an IAF C-130J aircraft was launched within an hour to move the Jawan for surgery at the R&R hospital in Delhi,” the IAF said.

“The injured personnel received medical attention promptly due to the dark night airlift on NVGs from the Ladakh sector by IAF. A dedicated team of medical personnel carried out a successful surgery and the jawan is now on his path to recovery,” read the post.

Despite the challenges posed by the dark night, the IAF’s use of night vision goggles (NVGs) ensured a safe and efficient airlift from the Ladakh sector to the R&R hospital in Delhi. Upon arrival, a dedicated team of medical professionals immediately performed a successful surgery to reattach the soldier’s hand.

Night vision goggles, also known as night optical or observation devices, played a crucial role in facilitating the rescue operation. These advanced optoelectronic devices enhance visibility in low-light conditions by amplifying available light, including infrared light, thus providing detailed imagery of the surroundings.