Hemant Soren Launches Jharkhand's First Air Ambulance Service

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren today launched the state's first air ambulance service from Ranchi to other parts of the country.

Hemant Soren flagged-off the service for which an aircraft of the Redbird Airways has been taken on lease, an official of the state civil aviation department said.

The service will be provided at rates between Rs 3-8 lakh for places such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Lucknow and Tirupati.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said, "The service is an effort to provide timely better treatment to seriously ill people. The state government is also contemplating to extend the service to those who are unable to afford the fares." 

The state civil aviation department has set up a cell for the air ambulance service which can be availed through phone calls and emails.

"The cell has received more than 250 calls enquiring about the service," he said.

Mr Soren said his administration intends to establish helipads along major roads so that those seriously injured in accidents can be airlifted by helicopters.

The air ambulance service will also be started from other districts of the state very soon, he said. The fare for other destinations will be at Rs 1.10 lakh per hour.

Mr Soren said health services are being improved at various levels and motorcycle ambulances are being introduced in remote areas.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)