TURA: The pathetic condition of the 108 ambulance being pressed into service by GVK EMRI in Williamnagar has irked the local unit of the Garo Students’ Union (GSU) compelling it to dash off a letter to the Deputy Commissioner to apprise him of the matter.
According to the union, the vehicle which was donated in the year 2009 is yet to undergo any kind of repairs and lack of maintenance has resulted in the outer body including the roof being damaged causing leakage of rainwater inconveniencing patients who are transported in it. The union added that the siren, turn indicators and blinkers are also not working properly and the spare tire is also in a very bad condition.
According to the union, medical equipment like stretcher, wheel chair and medicine box that was issued during the time of its donation are still in use and in a very bad shape and in need of replacement. Besides, the union said that the fan installed inside the vehicle is also non-functional as is the same case with the headlamps of the vehicle. Further, the union claimed that the rescue blanket needed to put out flames during fire incidents was also not available in the vehicle.
The union also said that the situation in the Williamnagar Civil Hospital was no different with the hospital ambulance not being available to patients on many occasions.
“There are instances of patients unable to utilise the ambulance as the accelerator was broken. At other times, there is no fuel in the vehicle. This is an outraged and the matter needs to be looked into,” the GSU said.
Pointing out that availability of an ambulance during times of emergency would greatly ease the problems of patients in the district, the union urged the deputy commissioner to seriously look into the matter.