Kochi: An appreciation for a rescue effort appeared at a most unlikely place – the terrace of a house – near here. It was the spot from where Indian Navy commander Vijay Varma and team daringly airlifted a pregnant Sajida Jabeel, whose delivery date had arrived.
As soon as Sajida was taken to the Naval Base hospital, she gave birth to a baby boy. The Navy had rescued another woman also from the house at Chengamanad, near Aluva. The word ‘Thanks’ written with white paint appeared on the terrace soon after. It is clearly visible from the air and evidently appreciates the role played by the Navy in the effort. The picture was released by the Navy on Twitter.
Commander Varma, a Keralite, later reached the hospital at Kochi Naval Base with gifts for the newborn and its mother. “We found it difficult to locate Sajida’s house as trees and water surrounded it. Initially, Dr Mahesh was sent down from the copter. He examined Sajida and ruled that she should be immediately shifted to hospital,” said Varma.
Airlifting a pregnant woman was a very risky operation, but Varma and team had no other choice. Moreover, they had two lives to save – of the mother and the baby. “In an emergency, we had no time to waste. Thankfully, Sajida remained calm and followed all our instructions,” said the commander.