While I was returning from Agartala to Kolkata on Thursday, 1st December, the flight was a bit delayed. We were in the lounge after security check and was awaiting boarding announcement. The flight landed, the passengers came out and started their way to go out. Within a few minutes, two sets of the seat rows in the flight was taken outside. I was surprised why the seats are taken out. An ambulance reached near the plane, a wounded army personnel was taken out on a stretcher and was taken inside the plane. All became clear. The army personnel was being taken to Kolkata for better treatment.  On the flight he was crying and shouting with severe pain.

My friend told me this is a usual sight. Due to the lack of sufficient better hospitals in the North Eastern States, patients have to be taken to Kolkata for treatment. The road route is very long curving through the hills and may take one or two days or more. There can be landslides all of a sudden. So, even poor people somehow manage to go by flight to save their dear ones.

This speaks much about the unequal development in the country. The Government is always announcing special packages for North East, but still the area is completely neglected. And the health concerns are completely neglected. The central and state governments have to act. There can not be any delay.