The Hindu : National : Czech hikers rescued

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 24, 2007
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National

Czech hikers rescued

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters performed their second mission of mercy in a fortnight when they rescued two incapacitated Czech hikers in the remote mountains of the high-altitude Zanskar Himlayas. A few days back IAF choppers rescued nearly a dozen Iraqi and Indian crew members of a ship that had got stuck in low tide over the Rann of Kutch.

The IAF received a message from the Czech Embassy here on Saturday seeking assistance to rescue two of its nationals — Jerry Kudma and Daniel Miller — one of whom had slipped and suffered a spinal injury while trekking near the Nun-Kun Mountains in Suru valley.

The Leh-based 114 ‘Siachen Pioneers’ helicopter unit was alerted and two Cheetah helicopters piloted by Squadron Leader F.P. Pinto and Squadron Leader Kavirappa took off for the rugged region where there is little chance of landing because of sharp rock faces and cliffs.

Pushing their machines at heights of over 11,000 feet, the two were successful by mid-day in locating the hikers and airlifting them to Leh from where they were brought here for specialised treatment.

The Czech Embassy has verbally conveyed its thanks to the IAF headquarters for the hazardous mission.

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