Initiative launched to fly injured firefighter to India

Published On: December 22, 2017 07:34 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Dec 22: An initiative has been launched to take a firefighter who was critically injured in Wednesday’s Birgunj gas factory fire to New Delhi, India by air ambulance for treatment.

Michael Kobold, a Kathmandu-based businessman, has started taking initiative to raise necessary funds with the help of Soarway Foundation, which is run by former US Ambassador to Nepal Scott H DeLisi. Nepal government has also been asked for support.

“We learnt from the doctors that a firefighter, who has received over 80 percent burn injury, has less chances of survival if he is not taken to India for treatment. We are working to airlift him to New Delhi as doctors advised us that chances of his survival will be over 50 percent if treated in India,” said Kobold.

Two firefighters were killed and two others were critically injured after a massive fire engulfed the Super Gas Industry of Buhabari in Birgunj Submetropolis in Parsa on Wednesday morning. Two firefighters Yadav Adhikari and Madhusudan Mishra died. Among the two injured firefighters, Sanjeev Nepal has sustained 80 percent burns and another has sustained 30 percent burns.

Nepal, 22, is currently undergoing treatment at a Kirtipur-based hospital. It is estimated that it would cost at least Rs 3 million to hire an air ambulance to take him to New Delhi and additional Rs 5 million for the treatment.

“In Europe and America, the firefighters are treated as gods. Our initiative is aimed at recognizing their contribution to society and express our solidarity with them,” Kobold said, while inviting all generous hearts to join their initiative.

The Soarway Foundation is partnering with the municipal and regional governments to raise funds to pay for the $30,000 medivacuation cost and the estimated $100,000 treatment costs. The group has already started crowd-funding with a plan to raise US$25,000 for the treatment.

Although the injured are currently being treated in capital city Kathmandu, hospitals in Nepal do not have the facilities to treat such serious burns.