SC taunts govt on Prez copter mishap

The recent helicopter incident in which President Pratibha Patil had a narrow escape was enough for the Supreme Court to pooh-pooh government's suggestion for airlifting victims of disasters to safety.

A bench of Justices R V Raveendran and K S Radhakrishnan instead suggested that the government better adopt the Pune model of Bus Rapid Transport system to enable smooth passage for amubulances and fire tenders to rush to the tragedy sites.

"Helicopters are used for carrying VIPs. Unfortunately we have such pilots, who carrying the president, will hit the only building in the airport. Be just practical," the apex court told Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising, who suggested that victims should be airlifted to get over the traffic snarls.

The apex court said the idea of air ambulances as suggested by the government was not practical and financially unviable, as it would amount to having helipads at various high rise buildings which a country like India cannot afford.

The court passed the remarks, while reserving its judgment on the compensation to be awarded to the families of the 59 people who died and 103 victims who suffered injuries in the Uphaar cinema tragedy in the capital in June 1997.

Patil had a narrow escape when the rotor blades of an IAF Mi-17 helicopter, in which she was aboard, hit a shed after landing at the Bhubaneswar airport on December 9.

Justice Raveendran heading the bench said there was a recent media article about the success of the BRT project in Pune, which facilitated smooth uninterrupted passage for ambulances and fire tenders during tragedies and suggested that Delhi adopt a similar model.

"Delhi can make a similar effort to ensure such roads and access to hospitals that are not cluttered with any kind of VIP movements, so that people do not find it difficult to go to hospitals," the apex court observed.

The apex court also disagreed with the suggestion of the government that multiplex theatres/complexes/shopping malls should mandatorily have doctors and other medical facilities like ambulances.

The bench said that this idea too was impractical and instead suggested that training in providing first aid treatment can be mandatory for those manning these multiplex houses and high rise buildings.

The ministry of home affairs, the Delhi Vidyut Board, the Municipal Corporaion of Delhi and the Ansals, owners of the Uphaar Cinema, earlier in the day submitted their written suggestions to prevent recurrence of Uphaar cinema type tragedies.

The apex court said that it would take into consideration the various suggestions, while making its own recommendations to the government on the preventive measures to be taken to avert such tragedies.