Jammu: The Indian Air Force on Tuesday rescued a US citizen from the Zhingchan area, 75 km from Leh. The IAF successfully evacuated the US citizen to Leh from Zhingchan, where she was stranded due to an injury. Public Relations Officer (PRO), IAF, Wing Commander Anupam Banerjee said the IAF responded after getting a request from the US embassy in New Delhi through the Defence Ministry. “Margaret Allen Stone, a US citizen, had set out for trekking in the Ladakh region and had been held up in Zhingchan since September 6 due to an injury. Her condition had deteriorated during this prolonged period of lack of care and she was in a critical condition,” the PRO said. “The US Government informed the IAF of the situation on Tuesday afternoon and the IAF responded with requisite alacrity. The exact location of Margaret Allen Stone was ascertained with the help of the civil administration and by evening, two IAF helicopters were able to locate her in a valley,” he said, adding that Stone was brought to a Leh hospital for medical care by sunset. TNS