Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) Private healthcare chain Apollo Hospital Thursday described as “most unfortunate” the crash of an air ambulance that killed a patient on way from Patna for treatment and six others on board as well as three people on the ground.

The single engine chartered aircraft hired by Delhi’s Apollo Hospital crashed into a densely-populated residential colony in Faridabad near the hospital Wednesday night.

“The air ambulance crash in Faridabad is most unfortunate and tragic. A nine-seater chartered aircraft which was hired from Delhi-based Air Chartered Services India Pvt Ltd was used by Delhi’s Apollo Hospital,” a spokesperson from the hospital said.

“The plane was in regular use by Delhi’s Apollo Hospital as an air ambulance. The entire Apollo family is devastated and in shock along with the families of the deceased,” the spokesperson said.

The air ambulance was carrying 20-year-old student Rahul Raj, who was in a critical condition and was being shifted to Apollo Hospital.

Along with Rahul and his cousin, there was a five-member team from Apollo Hospital on board the aircraft. Two Delho-based doctors from the hospital, Rajesh Jain and Syed Arshad Abbas, a male nurse from Patna, Cyril P. Joy, and two pilots were amongst those killed.

Apart from the people on the chartered plane, 55-year-old Vedvati, her daughter Sarita (19) and daughter-in-law Rani (20) were killed as the plane nosedived into their house in Faridabad.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda Thursday announced a compensation of Rs.2 lakh each to the kin of the three Faridabad residents killed.

A sum of Rs.20,000 each will be given to the three injured locals who helped in the rescue operations.