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Hippopotamus, Bicycle and a Punjabi

Anil Goyal

Human Rights Day: That Year 1000h LT: SOS received for Casevac (casualty evacuation) from a tense mined area. Situation: A lady was bitten by a Hippo and her leg was hanging loose by a cartilage. 1100h LT: Briefed and Launched 1300h LT: Rescued and brought back. 1305h LT: Relatives spotted, who had come to pick her up on a bicycle. 1310h LT: Failed to convince them for hospital transport. 1311h LT: Relatives refused any further assistance or intervention. 1315h LT: Taken away on a bicycle ambulance.  Next Day, Same year:…

CAT: Clear Air Turbulence

Anil Goyal

Clear-air turbulence (CAT) is the turbulent movement of air masses in the absence of any visual clues, such as clouds, and is caused when bodies of air moving at widely different speeds meet.[1]

The atmospheric region most susceptible to CAT is the high troposphere at altitudes of around 7,000–12,000 metres (23,000–39,000 ft) as it meets the tropopause. Here CAT is most frequently encountered in the regions of jet streams. At lower altitudes it may also occur near mountain ranges. Thin cirrus clouds can also indicate high probability of CAT.

The Sabji Courier

Anil Goyal

During the summer, one of the key tasks of the Indian Army is to stock up its high-altitude border posts with tents, clothing, food, ammunition and fuel for the harsh winter ahead. The heavy stocks are moved by roads while essential and high-value assets are mobilised by air. This is the just first step. Subsequently, all supplies are moved to forward bases through tough terrain with the help of locals, mules or aircraft. A soldier at these outposts is fighting three elements – the enemy, the weather and his own health. The cost of keeping each soldier at those altitudes, equipping him, feeding him and providing him with wherewith all for fighting is humongous and require Herculean effort. The story highlights the human side of the problem.