Navy Pilot Airlifts Pregnant Woman, Gets Giant ‘Thanks’ From Kerala Rooftop!

Various parts of Kerala remain submerged due to floods, and the armed forces are doing everything they can to help the stranded people.

By Rayomand Engineer

August 20, 2018

The floods in Kerala is the biggest natural disaster the state has seen in the recent past. According to The Hindu, the death toll stood at 210 while more than 7,00,000 people have been displaced since August 8th.

Vigorous rescue and relief operations are underway to save those affected. With many lives being lost over the past few days, armed forces and other government bodies are putting in everything they can to help evacuate flood victims. Even ordinary citizens are stepping up to take rescue and relief work into their own hands.

This is a heartwarming story of Naval Commander Vijay Varma who was flying a chopper carrying out rescue operations when he got a call from a pregnant woman stranded in a flood-hit area near Kochi airport.

Commander Vijay Varma (Left), rescued Sarjitha, who was pregnant and stranded in the Kerala floods. Image Credit: Barkha Dutt

Sarjitha, the pregnant lady, was in advanced labour, and with her water broken, the delivery could happen at any time.

Without wasting a second, the Commander flew out to the location to evacuate the stranded lady.

First, a doctor was lowered to assess the situation, after which Commander Varma ensured that he kept the helicopter rock steady for 30 minutes while Sajitha was airlifted. She was then flown from Kochi to the Navy’s Sanjivani Hospital in Chengannur, Alappuzha district, where she delivered a son.

GiveIndia and The Better India have come together to help Rebuild Kerala by supporting 41,000 affected families. You too can be a part of this movement and help us raise funds for the NGOs working to rehabilitate these families. If all of us come together with a small monthly contribution, we can make a real and meaningful difference in helping restore normalcy to those who need our help the most.

Unable to view the above button? Click here

Watch the evacuation video here.

A pregnant lady with water bag leaking has been airlifted and evacuated to Sanjivani. Doctor was lowered to assess the lady. Operation successful #OpMadad #KeralaFloodRelief #KeralaFloods2018 pic.twitter.com/bycGXEBV8q
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) August 17, 2018

The Commander then led a rescue mission that involved two women on August 17th. He flew a naval Advanced Light Helicopter and rescued the women from their house. Showing gratitude for the timely rescue, a Thank You note was painted on the roof of the house.

Saved thanks to Naval Commander Vijay Varma, the woman left a ‘Thank You’ note on her terrace in Kerala. Image Credit: Spokesperson Navy

Here’s how Twitterati responded to this.

Wow its beautiful. It shows how our forces saving lives. God bless you with lots of success and peace. Salute
— Goyal Pradeep (@GoyalPradeepCA) August 20, 2018

Wow we are proud of our Forces ??
— Madan Nayak (@mgnayak5) August 20, 2018

Very touching display for some very deserving people.
So proud of our forces.
Thank you.
— Sachith (@Anand_sachith) August 20, 2018

In another instance, a flight diver of the Indian Navy can be seen rescuing a child from the roof of a house in the submerged region of Aluva.

#OpMadad #KeralaFloodRelief #keralafloods Flight Diver Amit rescues a small child from Aluva. Pilot in Command Cdr Vijay Verma @SpokespersonMoD @DefenceMinIndia @DG_PIB pic.twitter.com/UQmf5rYu27
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) August 16, 2018

The Navy also managed to land a chopper on a very narrow rooftop, to successfully rescue an 80-year old woman who was stranded there.

Kudos to Commander Varma and the Navy for their consistent and selfless efforts in the rescue and relief of those stranded in the Kerala floods.

Edited By: Shruti Singhal.

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: [email protected], or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Found Value in This Story?Pay What You Can to Support Impactful Journalism

If you found our stories insightful, informative, or even just enjoyable, we invite you to consider making a voluntary payment to support the work we do at The Better India. Your contribution helps us continue producing quality content that educates, inspires, and drives positive change.

Choose one of the payment options below for your contribution-

₹201
₹501
₹1001

By paying for the stories you value, you directly contribute to sustaining our efforts focused on making a difference in the world. Together, let’s ensure that impactful stories continue to be told and shared, enriching lives and communities alike.

Thank you for your support. Here are some frequently asked questions you might find helpful to know why you are contributing?