Family's Desperate Bid for Life Ends in Tragedy as Air Ambulance Crashes in Chatra
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the family of businessman Sanjay Kumar, who was being transported to Delhi in an air ambulance for critical medical treatment, saw their hopes dashed when the aircraft crashed in Chatra on Monday evening. The family had gone to extraordinary lengths, taking out loans, borrowing from relatives, and depleting their entire savings to arrange the hefty Rs 8 lakh fee for the flight. They clung to the belief that advanced treatment in Delhi would save Sanjay's life, unaware that the journey they financed with borrowed money and desperate hope would become the final voyage for not only him but also two of his beloved family members.
Financial Struggles and a Tragic History
Sanjay Kumar's family originates from Rakhat village under the Chandwa police station in Latehar district. The family had been grappling with financial hardships, particularly after the Covid lockdown, which severely impacted their business. Sanjay, who ran a roadside hotel jointly with his brother, was frequently traveling between locations to manage operations and sustain their livelihood. Tragedy was no stranger to this family; in 2004, Sanjay's father, who also operated a hotel, was allegedly killed by Maoists. Following this devastating incident, the family relocated to the block headquarters of Chandwa, with Sanjay stepping up to shoulder the responsibility of supporting the household and overseeing the hotel.
The Fire Incident and Medical Emergency
The recent calamity began on February 16 when a fire erupted at the roadside hotel where Sanjay was assisting with cooking. The blaze, triggered by a leak in an LPG cylinder, left him critically injured. Initially admitted to a private hospital in Latehar, his condition necessitated a transfer to a hospital in Ranchi. As his health deteriorated further, doctors in Ranchi urgently advised the family to shift him to Delhi for advanced medical care, prompting the desperate decision to hire an air ambulance.
Crash Wipes Out Hopes and Leaves Children Orphaned
The air ambulance crash occurred in the Karmatand forest under the Simaria police station of Chatra district, extinguishing the family's dreams in an instant. Among the seven individuals killed were three family members: Sanjay Kumar, his wife Archana Devi, and their teenage nephew, Dhruv Kumar. This tragedy has plunged their native village into profound mourning. The crash has left Sanjay's two minor children, Shivam (13) and Shubham (17), orphaned overnight, compounding the family's grief.
Emotional Aftermath and Financial Burden
At Chatra sadar hospital, where the bodies were brought for post-mortem, Sanjay's elderly grandfather, Baleshwar Sahu, and other relatives broke down in tears. Sahu revealed that the family had exhausted all possible means for Sanjay's recovery, including securing a large loan to book the flight destined for Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi. A relative disclosed that Rs 6 lakh had been initially deposited for the flight fee, with the remaining Rs 2 lakh borrowed from a well-wisher in Latehar to meet the total cost of Rs 8 lakh. In a poignant reflection, the relative lamented, "We did not know we were paying this amount for a journey of death."
Sanjay's wife, Archana Devi, hailed from a village in Chatra district's sadar block, adding to the local impact of the tragedy. His elder brother, Vijay Saw, recounted how Sanjay had worked tirelessly to stabilize the family financially after their father's death, rebuilding everything from scratch with immense difficulty. "Now, my family is shattered again," he expressed sorrowfully.
This incident underscores the devastating intersection of medical emergencies, financial strain, and unforeseen disasters, leaving a community in shock and a family grappling with irreplaceable loss.
