ANGEL IN DISTRESS IN AFAR OFF LAND

BACKGROUND: Ms Soujanya Rai, daughter of serving Naval Officer, Cdr J N Rai. is a Goa-based software developer. She is also a writer, photographer and social media specialist. She has been travelling across the country with her family and now continues this journey on her own. An enterprising travel/backpacking enthusiast, she has created The Spicy Journey (www.thespicyjourney.com) to be able to share her stories, (mis)adventures, tips and shenanigans.

In October 2019, she was on one such solo trip to the island of Bali, one of the many solos she had done earlier. The confidence had been built over the years, and no misadventure actually happened all this while.

However, the nature has surprises in store, more so to test our resolve. And, then there is Forces Network too….to meet all such surprises and challenges.

THE CHALLENGE: Then, on 10 Oct 2019, she met with a serious accident at Bali. She was admitted to the Mangusada General Hospital, Badung, Bali in an unconscious state by the Police.

When the worried parents got the news of the accident at Goa, after having run out of options, they contacted Lt Cdr Lohith Anand Sequeira (Retd). He happens to be a member of the Forces Network, and promised them to use the resources of the Network to provide immediate help to their daughter.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED:  Lt Cdr Lohith flashed the news on the Forces Network Group on the night of 10 Oct 2019, and immediately proactive actions started within the Group like a well oiled machine. Promptly Cdr Mathur (Retd) and Wg Cdr Rajesh (Retd) contacted the parents and offered to help in this time of need.

Col Amish Chadha (Retd) (@AmishChadha), after learning about the help required, took the initiative to reach out to his classmate Mrs Monica Manchanda Mohindra (also daughter of an Army Officer and the owner of Pandawas Boutique Hotel, Ubud) at Bali who moved swiftly like an angel, spoke to Soujanya to comfort her, and then went to Soujanya’s hospital and took charge of the girl. She later brought her home, and provided her with all kind of support to aid her recovery.  A local doctor, another beautiful soul came to Monica’s home for the treatment, as Soujanya was travelling without travel insurance. It was very magnanimous of Monica to take care of the injured girl at this stage and provide her with the required support, both financial and moral, when even the Government officials were perturbed about her travelling without medical insurance, and the inability of her parents to reach her in time.

Soujanya was nursed back to wellness by Ms Monica and her family. Thereafter, Monica even assisted in rescheduling her flights and getting her to board a flight to India. 

Soujanya finally landed to be with her parents at Goa on 17 Oct 2019, after nearly seven days of trauma and helplessness in a foreign land.

This is another excellent display of the camaraderie and the swiftness shown by the members of the Forces Network, when an angel in distress in a far off of land was provided with succour, co-opting the able and timely support of close friends of the members. 

The parents were touched by the swiftness of the Forces Network in reaching out to their dear one in distress. While Cdr J N Rai is himself not a member of the Forces Network, however this incident has strengthened the faith amongst the members that come what may, and in any corner of the World, if they are in any kind of adverse situation, they will surely find a helping hand from this wonderful Forces Network….the network that works.