Shimla | 01 February 2026
In a remarkable rescue operation amid heavy snowfall, an 85-year-old woman from the remote Dodra Kwar region of Shimla district was airlifted by Indian Air Force helicopters and admitted to Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh, for critical medical treatment.
Dharmi, a resident of village Kitarwadi in Tehsil Dodra Kwar, had been suffering from paralysis for the past week, and her condition was deteriorating rapidly. On January 31, her family approached the local administration, informing SDM and Naib Tehsildar officials about her worsening health. Her son, Jiya Sen, requested urgent air evacuation due to the region’s inaccessibility following continuous snowfall.
Acting swiftly, the Shimla district administration recommended an airlift to the state government. Responding promptly, the Himachal Pradesh government coordinated with the Indian Air Force, which deployed two helicopters to Dodra Kwar on Sunday.
One helicopter airlifted the patient along with an attendant, while the second transported other family members. Initially, the patient was to be shifted to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla. However, due to adverse weather conditions preventing landing in Shimla, the administration diverted the helicopters directly to PGI Chandigarh.
Joint Secretary (GAD) Anil Mankotia coordinated closely with Air Force authorities and state officials at PGI to ensure seamless arrangements. ADM Protocol Jyoti Rana facilitated medical checkup arrangements for the family. At PGI, Deputy Director Administration Pankaj Rai and Administrative Officer Ashish are supervising treatment-related formalities.
Deputy Commissioner Shimla Anupam Kashyap stated that the administration received information through local officials in Dodra Kwar and immediately escalated the matter to the government. “Due to heavy snowfall in the Chanshal region and extreme weather conditions, airlifting was the only viable option. With coordinated efforts, the patient has been successfully shifted to PGI Chandigarh, where treatment has commenced. Officials are present to extend all possible assistance,” he said.
The swift inter-departmental coordination and timely intervention ensured life-saving medical access to one of the most remote snow-bound regions of the state.
