8861621628
Om Sai Ram
90 Jal vayu Vihar,
Kammanahalli Main Road
Bangalore-560043,
Friday-25/4/13
Dear Mrs D.A Kalpaja,
I write to convey my regards and enclose an article from the Army Journal of Combat Medicine for your kind perusal. It was written by Major Ritesh Goel, the RMO(Regimental medical officer) of the 4th Para(SF)- 4th Battalion of the Parachute Regimen(special forces -earlier called Para Commandos). This Elite battalion was part of the Agra based 50 Parachute Brigade( 1 Brigade has 3 battalions) which was called for Aid to Civil Power during the Kedarnath cloud burst and floods.
Ritesh Goel was a student of our good college (1st batch) and has done his Alma mater proud. He was motivated to join the army by Dr. Brig. AS Kasthuri VSM the then HOD Medicine of VIMS. Brig AS Kasthuri VSM was also my instructor during PG at AFMC from 1982 to 1984.
Ritesh Goel led a team which was dropped by Air Force helicopters right in the middle of destruction. With no place to land they slithered down by ropes from the hovering helicopters.
They set up a dispensary, Communication centre and opened up the road blocks for further army and civil reinforcements to move in. The rest of the story unfolds in the undertyped by this well motivated young major.
With the highest regards
Yours Sincerely
Surgeon Captain (Dr.) Ashok Bhagra VSM
Associate professor
Department of medicine
Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences
Whitefield Bangalore-560066
Emergency Number