J'khand governor applauds IAS officer and doctor for saving baby onboard Ranchi-Delhi flight

In a mid-air emergency aboard a flight from Ranchi to Delhi, a baby with congenital heart disease, who was experiencing severe breathing difficulties, was rescued by two doctors. One of them is a 1995-batch IAS officer, Nitin Madan Kulkarni, currently serving as the principal secretary to Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan.

Governor Radhakrishnan commended Kulkarni for his noble actions, describing it as an exemplary act of human service. He expressed, "I am proud of your noble work. It represents human service. Your promptness in saving the life of a child is highly appreciated. The work done by you towards serving humanity is exemplary for others."



The mid-air crisis unfolded on a Saturday morning when a family from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, was en route to Delhi for their child's treatment. Approximately twenty minutes into the flight, as the IndiGo aircraft soared to an altitude of 30,000 feet, the cabin crew made an urgent announcement, seeking medical assistance for a distressed baby.

Responding to the call for help were Dr. Nitin Madan Kulkarni and Dr. Mozammil Pheroz from Ranchi Sadar Hospital. Dr. Kulkarni described the scene, stating, "The mother was crying as the baby was gasping for breath. Dr. Mozammil and I took over the care of the baby. Oxygen was supplied through a mask meant for adults, as no baby mask or cannula was available."

Upon reviewing the medical records, they discovered that the baby had a congenital heart condition. Dr. Kulkarni administered the injection Theophylline from the available drug kit, and the parents had an injection of Dexona, which proved beneficial. "Soon after the injections were administered, the baby showed signs of improvement," he explained.

The initial 15-20 minutes were critical, as assessing progress was challenging. However, the baby's condition gradually improved, and Kulkarni acknowledged the assistance provided by the cabin crew, which was instrumental in their efforts.

They also requested a priority landing and full medical support upon arrival. The flight touched down at 9.25 am, and a medical team promptly offered oxygen support to the infant.

A fellow passenger expressed gratitude to the doctors for their heroic actions, stating, "Doctors are God-sent angels. Today, I saw one saving a 6-month-old baby on board an Indigo flight. Dr. Nitin Kulkarni, IAS, Governor House in Jharkhand, took on his role as a doctor and saved the kid. Salute to you, sir," wrote AS Deol on 'X'.