Helipads built in ten local units of Salyan district, intended for the emergency evacuation of critically ill patients, pregnant women, and accident victims, have remained unused.

Constructed four years ago by the Nepal Army with funding from local governments, these helipads have gone unused as road access has improved across the district, enabling ambulances to reach villages and eliminating the need for air evacuations.

Although the Nepal Army built the helipads with some local governments spending over Rs100,000, these investments have proven ineffective in recent years. As a result, these structures now stand idle, raising questions about whether similar projects will still be funded in the future.

Dipesh DC, chairman of ward 2 of Bagchaur Municipality, said that although the helipads were constructed to assist in remote areas, the increasing road connectivity means ambulances can now reach patients more efficiently. “We haven’t seen a helicopter land here,” he said, referring to a helipad built in 2020 at the View Tower area. He said that improved road infrastructure had significantly reduced the need for aerial rescue operations.

Yagya Bahadur Basnet, health division chief of Darma Rural Municipality, said that a helipad was constructed in Maulekahli, situated at the border of wards 2 and 3, but remains unused. “The Nepal Army did a remarkable job, but there have been no urgent cases requiring air evacuation. Most critically ill patients choose ambulances because they cannot afford the cost of a helicopter,” he said. Air evacuations have become increasingly rare as patients prefer road transportation, he said.

Engineer Rajaram Rijal of Chhatreshwari Rural Municipality also noted that while a helipad was built in ward 7 with support from the Nepal Army, no emergency evacuations occurred. He pointed out that most patients are taken to hospitals by road due to improved road networks. “During emergencies, families panic and try to get the patient to the hospital as quickly as possible. They don’t think of using helicopters. They immediately look for vehicles. That’s why the helipads remain unused,” he said.

Nepal Army Siddhibaksh Battalion Chief Krishna Thakulla said that since 2020, the need for air evacuations has drastically decreased, with most accident victims transported by road due to the high cost of helicopter services.