'Sold My Farmland For His Education': Father Mourns Loss Of Doctor Killed In Jharkhand Crash

Last Updated:February 24, 2026, 13:34 IST

Families of the Jharkhand air ambulance crash victims have shared emotional accounts of loss, and have questioned gaps in local healthcare that forced the medical evacuation.

Heart-rending scenes unfolded in Jharkhand as grieving families of those killed in the air ambulance crash recounted personal sacrifices, shattered hopes and unanswered questions, with relatives saying the tragedy has left entire households devastated.

Leading the voices of grief was the father of the deceased doctor, Vikash Kumar Gupta, who spoke about the sacrifices made to educate his son and questioned why patients are forced to travel outside the state for advanced treatment.

Speaking to news agency ANI, he said, “My elder son was posted in the Sadar Hospital, Ranchi. If there had been proper health facilities here, why would they have gone to Delhi for treatment? I had sold my farmland and other things for his education."

The doctor was among the seven people killed when a Redbird Airways air ambulance crashed near Simaria in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday evening while flying from Ranchi to Delhi on a medical evacuation mission.

FAMILY QUESTIONS HEALTHCARE GAPS

Relatives of Sanjay Prasad, who was being transported to Delhi after he had sustained burn injuries, said the decision to arrange for an air ambulance was taken only after his condition failed to improve despite treatment in Ranchi.

A family member told news agency PTI, “Sanjay Prasad had suffered severe burns. He was admitted to a hospital. There was no improvement in his condition during treatment, so we wanted to shift him to Delhi. In that process, we arranged a private jet, but it crashed."

The relative explained that Prasad had sustained serious injuries after a gas cylinder explosion at his small hotel.

“He had a small hotel, and a gas cylinder there had exploded, which caused the fire. That was how he got badly burnt," the relative said.

Expressing anger and grief, the family member alleged that weak healthcare arrangements forced them into a risky transfer.

“The system is extremely weak. Even when we go to private facilities, the arrangements turn into hardships, and today that hardship has turned into death," the relative said.

The tragedy, the relative added, has destroyed multiple families.

“Our home has been destroyed. Not just one home, many families have been ruined. If proper treatment had been available in Ranchi itself, we would not have had to take him to Delhi. And in the process of taking him to Delhi, this tragedy happened, our very existence has been shattered."

The relative further said two children have effectively been left without parental support.

“There are two children who have now become like orphans. What will happen to them, I do not know."

Echoing similar circumstances, Sanjay’s uncle told IANS that the family had arranged the air ambulance only after doctors indicated his condition was not improving locally.

“My nephew, Sanjay, who was injured in a fire and was admitted to a hospital in Ranchi. His condition did not improve there, so we arranged an air ambulance to take him to Delhi for treatment," he said.

‘HE WAS MY WHOLE WORLD’: BROTHER REMEMBERS PARAMEDIC

Another grieving relative spoke about Sachin Kumar Mishra, a paramedical staff member who died in the crash while performing his duty.

“My younger brother, Sachin Kumar Mishra, was everything to me. He was like my own child. He was my whole life and my entire world," the relative told PTI.

Recalling the family’s struggles, the relative said Mishra had begun working at a young age to support the household.

“Since my father is no more, he was my only support. He worked as a nursing paramedical staff member for many years. For the past two to three years, he had been working in an ambulance service," the relative said.

The family had repeatedly asked him to take a safer job, the relative added.

“We had advised him many times to take a hospital job instead and not take such a big risk. I asked him to stay with me. Without him, my life feels completely incomplete."

“He was the foundation of my life, my everything. Somehow, I educated my younger brother and supported him. At a very young age, he started working to support the family," the relative said.

THE JHARKHAND AIR AMBULANCE CRASH

The Redbird Airways Beechcraft C90 aircraft was operating a critical medical evacuation flight from Ranchi to Delhi when it crashed in a forested area of Chatra district shortly after takeoff.

All seven people on board, including crew members, medical personnel, attendants and the patient, were killed.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the crash, with officials stating that factors, including weather conditions, will be examined.

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