Nanjappa Chattram village, in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri district where the Indian Army helicopter ferrying the Chief of Defense Services General Bipin Rawat, his spouse Madhulika Rawat and 12 other Brave Hearts crash landed on December 8 leading to the martyrdom of all passengers, is yet to come out of the shock caused by the disaster.
But soldiers, officers and medical doctors belonging to the elite Madras Regimental Centre, Wellington, one of the oldest infantry units of the Indian Army descended on the remote village on Thursday morning despite the chilling cold as part of their mission to help the local community. A one-day long medical camp was held at the village under the auspices of MRC, which has adopted Nanjappa Chattram as a gesture of love and compassion to the residents who were the first to rush to the December 8 crash site to douse the flames and offer help to the passengers of the ill-fated chopper.
Lt Gen A Arun, General Officer Commanding, Southern Command of the Indian Army, who called on the crash site on December 13 had declared that MRC Wellington, the army unit which has exhibited its prowess in sports, service and securing the borders of the nation, would adopt the village and attend to the needs of the villagers.
This is being done as the infantrymen’s way of saying thanking to the villagers for their selfless service in the hour of extreme emergency.
A team of doctors, including lady medical doctors, nursing officers and para medical staff from Medical Hospital Wellington took part in the day long camp, offered medical consultations and administered medicines to the villagers. Those requiring specialized treatment have been recommended to Medical Hospital, Wellington.
The monthly camp would be held once in a month for the next one year with the active cooperation of the local government authortities, General Arun had said on December 13. MRC Wellington is continuing with service of providing free food to the people since the outbreak of Covid-19 in the hilly district of The Nilgiris.
