Malayalee nurse hit by missile in Israel, stable

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The condition of a Malayali nurse who was injured in a missile attack in Ashkelon in Israel the other day, is stated to be stable.

The nurse, Sheeja Anand,41, a native of Valakkai of Sreekandapuram in Kannur district of Kerala, sustained injuries in a missile attack by Hamas at her workplace. She was talking to her husband on a video call when the missile hit her unexpectedly.

The accident took place at around noon on Saturday. Sheeja was explaining the situation to her husband when a loud noise was heard in the background. The phone conversation stopped abruptly.

Moments later her husband and other family members tried to contact Sheeja but could not get through to her. The family came to know about the injuries sustained by Sheeja only a while later.

Sheeja sustained injuries on her hands, legs and stomach when the missile exploded. Relatives said she had undergone an emergency surgery and was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Tel Aviv. It was Sheeja's friends who informed the family about the incident.

On Sunday afternoon, Sheeja's family got to speak to her through a video call for just a few moments. The doctors treating her informed them that she might require surgery for a spinal injury.

Sheeja has been working as a caretaker nurse in Ashkelon for the past seven years.  The members of the family with whom Sheeja works also sustained injuries in the missile attack.

“I saw her on video call for a few seconds. She just mumbled Amma. Now we are told that she had a spinal injury as well. We are worried,” said her mother.

Meanwhile, Nimisha who works as a nurse in Zichron Yaakov said her area is safe as of now. However, areas bordering the Gaza Strip and Lebanon have reported heavy fighting. “We have been issued strict instructions by the local authorities to stay indoors and not to venture out of our places of dwelling. Last evening, we came to know that armed persons suspected to be Hamas terrorists who infiltrated Hadera and Netanya were caught by the security personnel,” she said.

Such infiltrators have intruded into many parts of Israel. They are being caught in many places. Now we understand the dangers. “They knock at the doors masquerading as army personnel. We have been told not to open doors to strangers,” she said.

Nimisha said she came to Israel six months ago and had learnt about the conflict only through newspapers and TV news. “This is the first time       I am experiencing such a situation,” she added.