Srinagar, September 11
Rabia’s liver was on the verge of collapse till yesterday. Famished, running high fever, urine infection and jaundice, she has been given a new lease of life by the Indian Army.

Rabia being treated at the Army Hospital in Srinagar. Anand Sharma

Airlifted from flood-ravaged Awantipura to 92 Base Hospital in Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar, the 16-year-old girl from Tral area in Pulwama district is showing signs of improvement now.

“Before being admitted to GB Pant paediatric hospital, Rabia was being treated at Tral’s sub-district hospital. But her condition was deteriorating every passing minute. Then the Army came to my daughter’s rescue. I am falling short of words in the praise of soldiers,” said Rabia’s father Abdul Rashid.

He said: “I had lost all hope. I thought I will not be able to see my daughter alive again. But now she is recuperating and I am confident that she will soon rejoin us at Tral.”

“All I remember is that I had high fever, urine infection and was admitted to a hospital at Tral. I have no clue about what happened thereafter. After regaining consciousness, I found myself in the Army hospital,” Rabia told the Tribune.

Doctors said she was critical when brought to the hospital but was now stable.

Besides Rabia, the Army has rescued at least 40 children from GB Pant paediatric hospital. Soldiers even came across kids, as young as four days old, who had already died and evacuated their mortal remains. Soldiers have successfully shifted all patients and attendants of the hospital to safer places.