By IANS
Chandigarh : An AN-32 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) converted into an air-ambulance has carried out a medical evacuation mission of critically injured Indian security personnel from a town in Iran.
The air-ambulance, belonging to ‘Camels’ – a squadron based at the air force station here, carried out the evacuation mission Jan 9 from Zabol town in Iran, bordering Afghanistan.
Five personnel of the Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) were critically injured in a suicide attack on their convoy in Zaranj province of southwest Afghanistan Jan 3, a ministry of defence spokesman said here Sunday.
The personnel were being deployed at Project Zaranj on the Deleram highway in Afghanistan when the attack was carried out. The injured were rushed to a border town in Iran where they were given immediate treatment. India has thanked the Iranian authorities for the emergency assistance.
Two ITBP personnel were killed in the attack and their mortal remains were also air-lifted from Iran. One critically injured Afghan national was also brought back here.
The spokesman said the medical evacuation mission was carried out at a short notice.
The mission was carried out by a crew comprising Group Captain J.V. Paul, Wing Commander S.K. Verma, Wing Commander Hemraj, Squadron Leader A.K. Sharma and junior warrant officer R.N. Verma along with a technical team and medical staff.
Chandigarh-based passport, customs and immigration officials provided cooperation in facilitating the airlift.