IAF evacuates seven patients from snow-bound Kashmir town

The Indian Air Force Sunday airlifted seven critically ill patients from the snow-bound border town of Tangdhar in Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said.

The three children, three women and a man from Tangdhar in Kupwara district were brought to Srinagar, the spokesman told IANS.

He said a telephone request was received by the army from the Kupwara district magistrate regarding airlifting of the seven patients.

"The patients had developed serious complications and could not be evacuated by road as the road from Tangdhar to Kupwara is closed due to heavy snowfall. Their condition necessitated moving the patients to a better-equipped hospital in Srinagar.

The army coordinated the effort with the Indian Air Force in Srinagar and a helicopter was arranged which brought the patients to the city at 3 p.m.