Kochi: The government helicopter reached Kochi carrying the heart of a teacher who was confirmed brain dead. The helicopter landed on the helipad of Grand Hyatt resort by 3.50 pm and the heart was taken to Lissy hospital via road. The heart transplant procedure is underway.
The heart of Lali Gopakumar, who was confirmed brain dead at Thiruvananthapuram KIMS hospital, was donated for transplantation to a Kothamangalam native, who was undergoing treatment at Ernakulam Lisie hospital. The heart was taken out via surgery after a team led by Doctor Jose Chacko Periyapuram reached Thiruvananthapuram and completed inspections.
Earlier, the government got into a controversy after renting the helicopter. The same helicopter was used as an air taxi to transport the heart.
This is the first time that the government helicopter is being used for such a cause. The government’s decision to transfer Rs 1.5 crore from state treasury to rent a helicopter for the state police had created a huge controversy. The money was handed over to Pawan Hans company at a time when the state was trying to limit its spending due to COVID-19 crisis.
However, the government argued that an order regarding the same was passed by the Finance department in February. The Chief Minister defended the government’s position that the state needed a helicopter and that renting one was better than buying a helicopter.
Published: 09 May 2020, 05:16 am IST
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