New Delhi: A first-of-its kind ‘battle field hospital' is being set up deep inside the Naxal hotbed of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh which will provide immediate first aid to injured CRPF and other security forces officials undertaking anti-Maoist operations.
The mini combat-support hospital, aided with life sustaining and resuscitation gadgets, will be the first operational medical facility for security troops operating in various Maoist affected states.
The hospital will be housed inside the fortified Central Reserve Police Force camp in Chintalnar area of the district, which is synonymous with the worst-ever Naxal ambush carried out on security forces in 2010 where 76 men were killed. Officials said such hospitals are created by the Army and defence forces in the battle ground during wars and conflicts so that troops in operations are provided immediate medical help before they are evacuated by air or road for advanced treatment.
The CRPF, which has a full-fledged medical wing under its establishment, will base a team of doctors and para-medics at this camp round-the-clock.
The location of the hospital is considered apt as Chintalnar and the jungles of Dantewada are the most difficult areas to operate because they are frequented by armed Maoist cadres as it is heavily forested and lies near the tri-junction border axis of Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra.
“The camp already has a helipad and troops who require medical care can be straightaway air-lifted from here to a nearest big hospital in Jagdalpur or state capital Raipur,” a senior official deployed in the anti-Naxal operations grid said.
