Kerala’s State-Rented Helicopter Saves Life with Swift Heart Transport

Kerala’s state-rented helicopter once again proved its life-saving value by airlifting a donated heart from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi in just 40 minutes on Tuesday. The organ was transported to save the life of Durga Kami, a Nepal native suffering from a rare genetic disorder. The heart was donated by Shibu (47) of Kollam, who was declared brain-dead.

This marked the sixth heart transported by the government-funded helicopter since its induction. A donated heart must reach the recipient within four to six hours, making rapid air transport critical.

Kerala remains the only state in India operating a government-funded helicopter for organ transportation, coordinated through a dedicated WhatsApp group involving police, doctors and volunteers to ensure seamless transfers. Despite earlier debates over costs, the helicopter has emerged as a vital emergency asset, playing a key role in saving lives.