The Supreme Court (SC) scoffed at the Centre on Wednesday for proposing to airlift victims of disasters, reminding it of the recent copter mishap involving president Pratibha Patil at Bhubaneswar Airport.
“Helicopters are used for carrying VIPs. Unfortunately, we have such pilots who [even when] carrying the president will hit the only building in the airport. Be practical,” justices RV Raveendran and KS Radhakrishnan remarked, looking at additional solicitor general Indira Jaising who had suggested that victims of disasters should be airlifted to overcome traffic snarls.
Air ambulances are not practical as they require having helipads on various high-rises which India can’t afford, the judges said.
The observation came during the hearing of appeals filed by victims of Delhi’s Uphaar Cinema fire tragedy of 1997.
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